1 Abijah Reigns over Judah In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.
2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijah began the battle with a military force of mighty men,400,000chosen men, while Jeroboam arrangedthemall for battle against him with800,000chosen menwho weremighty men of valor.God Smites Israel Before Judah
4 Then Abijah rose up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel:
5 Do you not know that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the rule over Israel forever to David 13:5Lit to him and to his sons and his sons by a covenant of salt?
6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his 13:6Or lord master,
7 and worthless men gathered about him, vile men, who proved too strong for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon; 13:7Lit Rehoboam he was young and timid and could not exert his strength before them.
8 “So now you 13:8Lit say intend to exert your strength before the kingdom of Yahweh by the hand of the sons of David, 13:8Lit and you are a being a great multitude andhavingwith you the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you.
9 Have you not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples ofotherlands? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a bull from the herd and seven rams, even he may become a priest ofwhat areno gods.
10 But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to Yahweh as priests, and the Levites are in their work.
11 And every morning and evening they 13:11 Lit offer up in smoke burn to Yahweh burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and the showbread isseton the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps isreadyto light every evening; for we keep the responsibilitygiven byYahweh our God, but you have forsaken Him.
12 And behold, God is with us atourhead and His priests with the signal trumpets to raise the shoutof waragainst you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”
13 But Jeroboam had encircled an ambush to come from the rear, so thatIsraelwas in front of Judah and the ambush was behind them.
14 So Judah turned around, and behold, 13:14 Lit the battle was before and behind them they were attacked both front and rear; so they cried to Yahweh, and the priests blew the trumpets.
15 Then the men of Judah raised a shoutof war, and when the men of Judah raised the shoutof war, then it was that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 So the sons of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hand.
17 And Abijah and his people struck them down with a great slaughter, and500,000chosen men of Israel fell slain.
18 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah were strong because they leaned upon Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured from himseveralcities, Bethel with its towns, Jeshanah with its towns, and 13:19Or Ephrain Ephron with its towns.Death of Jeroboam
20 Now Jeroboam did not again recover power in the days of Abijah; and Yahweh smote him and he died.
21 But Abijah became stronger; and he took fourteen wives to himself, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his words are written in the 13:22 Heb midrash treatise of the prophet Iddo.