Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 13:7

And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

7. are gathered ] R.V. were gathered.

children of Belial ] R.V. sons of Belial (mg. sons of worthlessness). The general sense “worthless persons” is clear, but the precise meaning of Belial, and whether the word be a proper name or a common noun, cannot be decided at present.

young ] Lit. a child. If this word is to be literally understood, the statement made is erroneous, for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign (2Ch 12:13). It is probable, however, that the word is used metaphorically to describe one who was young (as indeed his conduct shewed) in experience of government; so Solomon (1Ki 3:7) calls himself a little child, by which he simply meant to express his consciousness of the smallness of his own ability when compared with the greatness of the task which lay before him. Cp. 1Ch 29:1.

tender hearted ] i.e., according to Heb. phraseology, weak in understanding, the heart being considered to be the seat of the mind. Or we may translate the Heb. phrase as in Deu 20:8, fainthearted.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 7. When Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted] Therefore he could not be forty-one when he came to the throne; 2Ch 13:3. Children of Belial here signifies men of the most abandoned principles and characters; or men without consideration, education, or brains.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The children of Belial; such as have cast off the yoke and obedience which they owed both to God and to their king.

When Rehoboam was young; not in age, for he was then forty-one years old, but in his kingdom, which he had but newly obtained, and in experience in politic, and especially in military, affairs, to which he was wholly a stranger, as having been born and bred up in a time of great peace and security.

Tender-hearted, i.e. cowardly and fearful, who durst not adventure to chastise the rebels as he should have done. But therein Abijah forgets his duty, both to his father, whom he falsely traduceth; and to God, by whose express command Rehoboam was restrained from the war against Israel, which otherwise he had both courage and resolution to prosecute, as appears from the history, 1Ki 12:21.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And there are gathered unto him vain men,…. Void of the fear of God, and all that is good:

the children of Belial: men unprofitable, good for nothing, or that had cast off the yoke of the law of God, were lawless and abandoned persons:

And have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon: rejected his government of them; went into a strong opposition to him, and set up another king over them:

when Rehoboam was young and tender hearted, and could not withstand them; not that he was young in years, for he was forty one years of age when he began to reign; though Joshua is called a young man when he is supposed to be between fifty and sixty years of age

Ex 33:11, and though “adolescentia” and “juventus” are both used in Latin writers for “youth”, yet Varro q distinguishes them, and makes the former to begin at the year fifteen, and continue to the year thirty, and the latter to begin at thirty, and end at forty five; so that, according to this, Rehoboam was then in his stage of youth; but perhaps the meaning here is, that he was young in the kingdom, scarcely settled on his throne, and the advantage of that was taken; not was he cowardly and fearful; and if Abijah meant that by “tender heartedness”, he not only reproached but belied his father; for he would have fought with Israel in order to have reduced them to obedience, but was forbidden by the Lord; if by “tender hearted”, he means that he had a tender regard to the command of God, it is true; but that seems not to be his sense, but the former.

q Apud Stockim in voce , p. 688.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(7) And there are gathered.Omit are.

Vain men (rqm, Jdg. 9:4; Jdg. 11:3).Said of the followers of Abimelech and the freebooter Jephthah. Neither this nor the following phrase, the children of Belial (literally, sons of worthlessness, i.e., men of low character and estimation) occurs again in the Chronicles. (See Jdg. 19:22; Jdg. 20:13; 1Ki. 21:10; 1Ki. 21:13, for the latter.)

Have strengthened.Omit have.

Young and tender-hearted.Rather, a youth and soft of heart, faint-hearted. A similar phrase occurred 1Ch. 29:1. The expression is somewhat inexact, as Rehoboam was forty-one when he ascended the throne (2Ch. 12:13). But Abijah is naturally anxious to put the case as strongly as possible against Jeroboam, and to avoid all blame of his own father. In 2 Chronicles 10 Rehoboam appears as haughty and imperious, rather than timid and soft-hearted.

Could not withstand them.Did not show himself strong or firm (2Ch. 12:13).

Against them.Before them. (Comp. 1Ch. 12:17; a usage of the chroniclers.)

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

2Ch 13:7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

Ver. 7. And there are gathered unto him vain men. ] Rachas brainless fellows, light and empty; yokeless also and masterless; men of no piety or common honesty. Such also were Catiline’s comrades among the Romans.

When Rehoboam was young. ] Not in age, but in experience, policy, and valour; he was imbellis et metculosus, hen-hearted, as we say, and – as a young plant, not yet rooted – easily shaken and swayed by the insolencies of his rebellious subjects.

And could not withstand them. ] Thus he layeth the fault – like a good child – wholly upon his father; with whom, it is like, he was displeased for obeying the prophet Shemaiah, 2Ch 11:4 and not reducing his rebels at first, as he might have done, but for his folly and faint-heartedness, saith Abijah.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

children = sons.

was. Hebrew. hayah = became, or showed himself [to be young and weak].

young. Compare 2Ch 10:8; 2Ch 12:13.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

vain men: Jdg 9:4, Jdg 11:3, 1Sa 22:2, Job 30:8, Psa 26:4, Pro 12:11, Pro 28:19, Act 17:5, Tit 1:10

the children of Belial: Deu 13:13, 1Ki 21:10, 1Ki 21:13

young: 2Ch 10:16, 2Ch 12:13, Ecc 10:16, Isa 3:4, 1Co 14:20, Heb 5:12

could not: 2Ch 11:1-4

Reciprocal: Jdg 20:13 – children of Belial 1Sa 10:27 – children 1Sa 25:17 – a son of Belial 1Ki 11:43 – Rehoboam 1Ki 14:21 – Rehoboam 1Ch 22:5 – Solomon 1Ch 29:1 – young Nah 1:11 – wicked counsellor Mat 1:7 – Roboam

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2Ch 13:7. Vain men, children of Belial Such as have cast off the yoke and the obedience which they owed both to God and to their king. When Rehoboam was young Not in age, for he was then forty-one years old, but in his kingdom, which he had but newly obtained, and in experience in politics, and especially in military affairs, to which he was, indeed, wholly a stranger, having been born and brought up in a time of great peace and security.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

13:7 And there are gathered unto him {g} vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was {h} young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

(g) This word in the Chaldee tongue is Racha, which our saviour uses, Mat 5:22.

(h) Meaning, in heart and courage.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes