| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1In the eighteenth year of Israel's King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2and he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Abijah set his army of warriors in order with four hundred thousand fit young men. Jeroboam arranged his mighty army of eight hundred thousand fit young men in battle formation against him. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Jeroboam and all Israel, hear me. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Don't you know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6But Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young, inexperienced, and unable to assert himself against them. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8"And now you are saying you can assert yourselves against the LORD's kingdom, which is in the hand of one of David's sons. You are a vast number and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Didn't you banish the priests of the LORD, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10"But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not abandoned him; the priests ministering to the LORD are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to the LORD every morning and every evening, and they set the rows of the Bread of the Presence on the ceremonially clean table. They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have abandoned him. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Look, God and his priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don't fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed." |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Now Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to advance from behind them. So they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets, |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. When the men of Judah raised the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and five hundred thousand fit young men of Israel were killed. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The Israelites were subdued at that time. The Judahites succeeded because they depended on the LORD, the God of their ancestors. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Jeroboam no longer retained his power during Abijah's reign; ultimately, the LORD struck him and he died. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21However, Abijah grew strong, acquired fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, along with his ways and his sayings, are written in the Writing of the Prophet Iddo. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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