Judah’s King Abijam

15 In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah ² and reigned three years in Jerusalem.^(A) His mother’s name was Maacah^(B) daughter^[a] of Abishalom.

³ Abijam walked in all the sins his father before him had committed,^(C) and he was not completely devoted to the Lord his God as his ancestor David had been.^{(D) 4} But because of David, the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem.^{(E) 5} For David did what was right in the Lord’s eyes, and he did not turn aside from anything He had commanded him all the days of his life,^(F) except in the matter of Uriah^(G) the Hittite.

⁶ There had been war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Rehoboam’s life.^{(H) 7} The rest of the events of Abijam’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.^(I) There was also war between Abijam and Jeroboam.^{(J) 8} Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.^(K) His son Asa became king in his place.^(L)

²⁰ After her, he married Maacah daughter^[a](A) of Absalom. She bore Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith to him.

Judah’s King Abijah

13 In the eighteenth year^(A) of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Abijah^[a] became king over Judah ² and reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah^[b](B) daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah.

There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. ³ Abijah set his army of warriors in order with 400,000 choice men. Jeroboam arranged his mighty army of 800,000 choice men in battle formation against him. ⁴ Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,^(C) which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, hear me. ⁵ Don’t you know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever^(D) by a covenant of salt?^{(E) 6} But Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.^{(F) 7} Then 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 “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.^{[c](G) 9} Didn’t you banish the priests of Yahweh, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do?^(H) Whoever comes to ordain himself^(I) with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest^(J) of what are not gods.^(K)

¹⁰ “But as for us, Yahweh 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 They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and every evening,^(L) and they set the rows of the bread of the Presence on the ceremonially clean table.^(M) They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of Yahweh our God, while you have abandoned Him.^{(N) 12} Look, 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.”^(O)

¹³ Now Jeroboam had sent an ambush^(P) around to advance from behind them. So they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. ¹⁴ Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to the Lord.^(Q) Then the priests blew the trumpets, ¹⁵ and 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.^{(R) 16} So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them.^{(S) 17} Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 choice men of Israel were killed. ¹⁸ The Israelites were subdued at that time. The Judahites succeeded because they depended on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

¹⁹ Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron^[d] and its villages. ²⁰ Jeroboam no longer retained his power^[e] during Abijah’s reign; ultimately, the Lord struck him^(T) and he died.^(U)

²¹ However, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives, and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters. ²² The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, along with his ways and his sayings, are written in the Writing^(V) of the Prophet Iddo.^(W) 14 ^1 [f]Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.^(X) During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years.