2Chronicles 13

Abijah’s War with Jeroboam

13Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel.H8083H6240H8141H4428H3379H29H4427H30632He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah

, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. Then war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.H4427H7969H8141H3389H517H8034H4322H1323H222H1390H4421H29H33793Judah, led by King Abijah, fielded 400,000 select warriors, while Jeroboam mustered 800,000 select troops from Israel.H29H631H4421H631H2428H1368H4421H702H3967H505H977H376H3379H4421H6186H8083H3967H505H977H376H1368H24284When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: "Listen to me!H29H6965H2022H6787H2022H669H559H8085H3379H34785Don't you realize that the LORD, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant

with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?H3045H3068H430H3478H5414H4467H3478H1732H5769H1121H1285H44176Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a mere servant of David's son Solomon, rebelled against his master.H3379H1121H5028H5650H8010H1121H1732H6965H4775H1137Then a whole gang of scoundrels joined him, defying Solomon's son Rehoboam when he was young and inexperienced and could not stand up to them.H6908H7386H582H1121H1100H553H7346H1121H8010H7346H5288H7390H3824H2388H64408"Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the LORD that is led by the descendants of David? You may have a vast army, and you have those gold calves that Jeroboam made as your gods.H559H2388H6440H4467H3068H3027H1121H1732H7227H1995H2091H5695H3379H6213H4309But you have chased away the priests of the LORD (the descendants of Aaron) and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests, just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest these days! Whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so-called gods of yours!H5080H3548H3068H1121H175H3881H6213H3548H5971H776H935H4390H3027H1121H1241H6499H7651H352H3548H3808H43010"But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the LORD as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work.H3068H430H5800H3548H8334H3068H1121H175H3881H439911They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the LORD our God, but you have abandoned him.H6999H3068H1242H6153H5930H5561H7004H3899H4635H2889H7979H4501H2091H5216H1197H6153H8104H4931H3068H430H580012So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!"H430H7218H3548H8643H2689H7321H1121H3478H3898H3068H430H1H674313Meanwhile, Jeroboam had secretly sent part of his army around behind the men of Judah to ambush them.H3379H3993H935H5437H310H6440H3063H3993H31014When Judah realized that they were being attacked from the front and the rear, they cried out to the LORD for help. Then the priests blew the trumpets,H3063H6437H4421H6440H268H6817H3068H3548H2690H2690H268915and the men of Judah began to shout. At the sound of their battle cry, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel and routed them before Abijah and the army of Judah.H376H3063H7321H376H3063H7321H430H5062H3379H3478H6440H29H306316The Israelite army fled from Judah, and God handed them over to Judah in defeat.H1121H3478H5127H6440H3063H430H5414H302717Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500,000 of Israel's select troops were killed that day.H29H5971H5221H7227H4347H5307H2491H3478H2568H3967H505H977H37618So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their ancestors.H1121H3478H3665H6256H1121H3063H553H8172H3068H430H119Abijah and his army pursued Jeroboam's troops and captured some of his towns, including Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their surrounding villages.H29H7291H310H3379H3920H5892H1008H1323H3466H1323H6085H132320So Jeroboam of Israel never regained his power during Abijah's lifetime, and finally the LORD struck him down and he died.H3379H6113H3581H3117H29H3068H5062H419121Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.H29H2388H5375H702H6240H802H3205H6242H8147H1121H8337H6240H132322The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, including his words and deeds, are recorded in The Commentary of Iddo the Prophet.H3499H1697H29H1870H1697H3789H4097H5030H5714