Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 13

Verses 1-22

2 Chronicles 13:7 “And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial” - Comments - After winning the United States presidential election of November, 2000, the president-elect George Bush began to chose his cabinet. It became immediately apparent that he was choosing strong and able men and women to surround him in his presidency. This stood in stark contrast to the preceding 8- year presidency of Bill Clinton. One of the characteristics of the Clinton administration was the fact that he surrounded himself with liberals, with those who despised God's Word, with homosexuals and lesbians, with special interest group. The Clinton administration was one of the most corrupt presidential administrations in history. He surrounded himself with weak people, people who could not threaten his decisions and judgment. President Clinton distanced himself from his Vice-President, from the Senate and House of Representatives. For these were all people who could think and reason between right and wrong.

We see Jeroboam's administration weak and corrupt. This stood in contrast to the strong and able anointed men that David surrounded himself with during his entire reign as king over Israel. King David wanted the best decisions made. Jeroboam wanted to be the only decision-maker and do what was best for himself only, and not for the people.

We see this same weakness in Jephthah, who also gathered to himself weak men (Judges 11:3).

Judges 11:3, “Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.”