| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother's name was Maakah, a daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Don't you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8"And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David's descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9But didn't you drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate 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"As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken him. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed." |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel's able men. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the LORD struck him down and he died. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22The other events of Abijah's reign, what he did and what he said, are written in the annotations of the prophet Iddo. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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