When in the history of the divided kingdom does 2 Chronicles 13 take place?
It takes place early in the divided kingdom, while both the northern and southern kingdoms still exist and are on the verge of civil war. Abijah of Judah and Benjamin faces Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom, who had seceded.
Les explains that 2 Chronicles 13 occurs while both segments of the country are still in place, the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom, and they are about ready for a civil war. Abijah is from the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin and can raise 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom who seceded, arrays 800,000 troops against him. This early divided-kingdom setting comes before later years when the northern kingdom could field only 580,000 while the southern kingdom had 1,160,000, due to Israelites migrating south.
And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.