1 A1 Kin 15:1, 2In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

A1 Kin 15:7

Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah began the battle with an army of valiant warriors, 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in battle formation against him with 800,000 chosen men who were valiant warriors.

4 Then Abijah stood on Mount AJosh 18:22Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel: 5  “Do you not know that A2 Sam 7:12-16the Loʀᴅ God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David 1Lit to him and to his sonsand his sons by BLev 2:13; Num 18:19a covenant of salt? 6  “Yet A1 Kin 11:26Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his 1Or lordmaster, 7 and worthless men gathered about him, scoundrels, who proved too strong for Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when 1Lit RehoboamA2 Chr 12:13he was young and timid and could not hold his own against them.

8 “So now you intend to resist the kingdom of the Loʀᴅ 1Lit in the hands ofthrough the sons of David, 2Lit and you are abeing a great multitude and having with you A1 Kin 12:28; 2 Chr 11:15the golden calves which Jeroboam made for gods for you. 9  “A2 Chr 11:14, 15Have you not driven out the priests of the Loʀᴅ, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes BEx 29:29-33to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of what are CJer 2:11; 5:7no gods. 10  “But as for us, the Loʀᴅ is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the sons of Aaron are ministering to the Loʀᴅ as priests, and the Levites 1Lit in the workattend to their work. 11  “Every morning and evening AEx 29:38; 2 Chr 2:4they 1Lit offer up in smokeburn to the Loʀᴅ burnt offerings and fragrant incense, and BEx 25:30-39; Lev 24:5-9the showbread is set on the clean table, and the golden lampstand with its lamps is ready to light every evening; for we keep the charge of the Loʀᴅ our God, but you have forsaken Him. 12  “Now behold, God is with us at our head and ANum 10:8, 9His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Loʀᴅ God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.”

13 But Jeroboam AJosh 8:4-9had set an ambush to come from the rear, so that Israel was in front of Judah and the ambush was behind them. 14 When Judah turned around, behold, 1Lit the battle was before and behind themthey were attacked both front and rear; so A2 Chr 14:11they cried to the Loʀᴅ, and the priests blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God 1Lit smoteA2 Chr 14:12routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 When the sons of Israel fled before Judah, A2 Chr 16:8God gave them into their hand. 17 Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter, so that 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain. 18 Thus the sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah 1Lit were strongconquered A2 Chr 14:11because they trusted in the Loʀᴅ, the God of their fathers. 19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured from him several cities, Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages and 1Another reading is EphrainEphron with its villages.

20 Jeroboam did not again recover strength in the days of Abijah; and the A1 Sam 25:38Loʀᴅ struck him and B1 Kin 14:20he died.

21 But Abijah became powerful; and took fourteen wives to himself, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his words are written in A2 Chr 24:27the 1Heb midrashtreatise of B2 Chr 9:29the prophet Iddo.