2 Chronicles 13:1-14 ▼

1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

2 Three 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.

3 And 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.

4 And Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and he said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel;

5 is 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?

6 And rose up Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, and he rebelled against his lord.

7 And 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.

8 And 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.

9 Have 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.

10 And 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.

11 And 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.

12 And 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.”

13 And Jeroboam brought around the ambush to come in behind them, and they were before the face of Judah, and the ambush behind them.

14 And Judah turned, and behold, the battle was before their faces and behind, and they cried out to YHWH, and the priests sounded the trumpets.