And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of Abia: and the Lord struck him, and he died.

And Jeroboam hath not retained power any more in the days of Abijah, and Jehovah smiteth him, and he dieth.

And Jeroboam did not get back his power again in the life-time of Abijah; and the Lord sent death on him.

And Jeroboam no longer had the strength to resist, in the days of Abijah. And the Lord struck him, and he died.

Jeroboam's death was a judgment upon him for his sins. Chronologically speaking, his death is here out of place, for he outlived Abijah at least two years (compare the marginal reference and 1-Kings 15:9); but the writer, not intending to recur to his history, is naturally led to carry it on to its termination.

The Lord struck him, and he died - Who died? Abijah or Jeroboam? Some think it was Jeroboam; some, that it was Abijah. Both rabbins and Christians are divided on this point; nor is it yet settled. The prevailing opinion is that Jeroboam is meant, who was struck then with that disease of which he died about two years after; for he did not die till two years after Abijah: see 1-Kings 14:20; 1-Kings 15:9. It seems as if Jeroboam was meant, not Abijah.

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.

Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah--The disastrous action at Zemaraim, which caused the loss of the flower and chivalry of his army, broke his spirits and crippled his power.
the Lord struck him, and he died--that is, Jeroboam. He lived, indeed, two years after the death of Abijah (1-Kings 14:20; 1-Kings 15:9). But he had been threatened with great calamities upon himself and his house, and it is apparently to the execution of these threatenings, which issued in his death, that an anticipatory reference is here made.

Jeroboam could not afterwards gain power (כּוח עצר, as in 1-Chronicles 29:14): "And Jahve smote him, and he died." The meaning of this remark is not clear, since we know nothing further of the end of Jeroboam's life than that he died two years after Abijah. ויּגּפהוּ can hardly refer to the unfortunate result of the war (2-Chronicles 13:15.), for Jeroboam outlived the war by several years. We would be more inclined to understand it of the blow mentioned in 1-Kings 14:1-8, when God announced to him by Ahijah the extermination of his house, and took away his son Abijah, who was mourned by all Israel.

The Lord struck him - He escaped the sword of Abijah: but God struck him: there is no escaping his sword.