(20) Neither did Jeroboam recover strength.--And Jeroboam retained strength no longer. LXX. ??? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ???. See 1Chronicles 29:14 (the same phrase).

And the Lord struck him, and he died.--All that is known of Jeroboam's death is that it took place two years after that of Abijah (1Kings 15:8-9). The expressions of the text cannot mean, as Z�ckler suggests, "visited him with misfortune till his death." His death is regarded as a judicial visitation (compare the use of the same Hebrew phrase, 1Samuel 25:38). The verse, then, states that during the rest of Abijah's reign Jeroboam remained powerless to injure his neighbour; and that the circumstances of his death were such that men recognised in them "the finger of God." It is not likely that the reference is to the event of 2Chronicles 13:15 (Bertheau), nor to the death of his son (1Kings 14:1-8), as Keil supposes.

Verse 20. - The Lord struck him; and he died. The writer of Chronicles here, for brevity's sake, and not to recur to his name again, records the death of Jeroboam, which, however, did not happen till after Abijah's death, in the second year of Asa's reign (1 Kings 14:20; 1 Kings 15:25). That the Lord struck him, may glance at the fearful announcement conveyed to him through his wife by Ahijah (1 Kings 14:6-16).

13:1-22 Abijah overcomes Jeroboam. - Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1Ki 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form of it. Many that have little religion themselves, value it in others. But it was true that there were numbers of pious worshippers in Judah, and that theirs was the more righteous cause. In their distress, when danger was on every side, which way should they look for deliverance unless upward? It is an unspeakable comfort, that our way thither is always open. They cried unto the Lord. Earnest prayer is crying. To the cry of prayer they added the shout of faith, and became more than conquerors. Jeroboam escaped the sword of Abijah, but God struck him; there is no escaping his sword.Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah,.... So as to bring an army into the field against him, and fight him:

and the Lord struck him; by some Jewish writers (a), this is interpreted of Abijah; and the reason of his being stricken, they say, was because he did not destroy the calf when he took Bethel; but it is best to understand it of Jeroboam, since Abijah is afterwards said to wax mighty:

and he died; not immediately, for he lived two years after Abijah, 1 Kings 14:20, but continued under a lingering disease he was smitten with, and which issued in his death.

(a) Bereshit Rabba, sect. 65. fol. 58. 8. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 16.