1Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam (of Israel) Abijah began to reign in Judah.
2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of four hundred thousand chosen and valiant men of war; while Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen mighty men of valor.
4And Abijah stood upon Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Jeroboam, and all Israel.
5Do you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
6Yet Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David, rebelled against his lord, the king.
7And worthless men, base fellows, have gathered to him and strengthened themselves against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
8And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; since you are a great multitude, and have with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
9Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have appointed your own priests like the people of other lands? So that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods (idols).
10But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests, who minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites perform their duties.
11Every morning and evening they burn unto the LORD burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; the showbread, also, set they in order upon the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but you have forsaken Him.
12And, behold, God Himself is with us for our head, and His priests are here with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.”
13But Jeroboam (of Israel) set an ambush to come from behind Judah, so that Israel was in front of Judah, and Israel’s ambush contingent was behind them.
14And when Judah saw that the battle was in front and behind; they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
15Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as they shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before (and in defense of) Abijah and Judah.
16And the men of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered Israel into their (Judah’s) hand.
17And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; and five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel were slain.
18Thus, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers; and the children of Israel were subdued at that time.
19And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its towns, Jeshanah, with its towns, and Ephrain, with its towns.
20Nor did Jeroboam recover strength again during the reign of Abijah; and then the LORD struck him, and he died.
21But Abijah became mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.
22And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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