Abijah Reigns in Judah
(1 Kings 15:1–8)

1In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah† became king over Judah. 2Three years he reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Micaiah† daughter† of Uriel of Gibeah.

And there was war between Abijah and between Jeroboam. 3And Abijah directed the battle with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand choice men, and Jeroboam drew up against him in battle with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.

Civil War against Jeroboam

4And Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and he said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel; 5is it not for you⁺ to know that YHWH, God of Israel, gave the dominion to David over Israel forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?† 6And rose up Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, and he rebelled against his lord. 7And vain men gathered to him, sons of worthlessness, and they strenghtened themselves against Rehoboam son of Solomon. And Rehoboam was young and tender of heart, and he could not strengthen himself against them.

8And you⁺ are saying to strengthen yourselves before the face of the kingdom of YHWH in the hand of the sons of David, and you⁺ are a great multitude, and with you⁺ are the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you⁺ as gods. 9Have you⁺ not cast out the priests of YHWH, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of the lands? Everyone comes to consecrate himself with a bull, a son of the herd, and seven rams, and he will be a priest of what are not gods.

10And as for us, YHWH is our God, and we have not forsaken Him and the priests who minister to YHWH, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, in the work. 11And they burn to YHWH burnt offerings morning by morning and evening by evening, and incense of spices, and the arrangement of bread on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold, and its lamps, to burn evening by evening. For we are keeping the charge of YHWH our God, and you⁺ have forsaken Him.

12And behold, with us at head is God, and His priests, and trumpets sounding to shout against you⁺. O sons of Israel, do not fight against YHWH, God of your⁺ fathers, for you shall⁺ not prosper.”

13And Jeroboam brought around the ambush to come in behind them, and they were before the face of Judah, and the ambush behind them. 14And Judah turned, and behold, the battle was before their faces and behind, and they cried out to YHWH, and the priests sounded the trumpets. 15And the men of Judah gave a shout, and it came to pass as the men of Judah shouted, that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16And the sons of Israel fled before the face of Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. 17And Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter, and they fell slain from Israel five hundred thousand choice men. 18And the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah prevailed because they relied on YHWH, God of their fathers.

19And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and he took from him cities: Bethel and its villages, and Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.

20And Jeroboam did not recover power again in the days of Abijah; and YHWH struck him and he died.

21And Abijah strengthened himself, and he took to himself fourteen wives, and he begat twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his words, are written in the Treatise† of the Prophet Iddo.