This edition follows the Hebrew versification; the traditional number is given in brackets.
Abijah’s Speech on Mount Zemaraim
1It was in Jeroboam’s eighteenth year as king that Abijah came to the throne of Judah. 2For three years he was king in Jerusalem. His mother was Micaiah, daughter of Uriel, from Gibeah. Abijah and Jeroboam were at war. 3Abijah went into battle with a force of seasoned fighters, four hundred thousand picked men, and Jeroboam drew up his line against him with eight hundred thousand picked men, seasoned fighters. 4Abijah took his stand on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said: “Hear me, Jeroboam, and all Israel! 5Is it not yours to know that Yahweh, the God of Israel, granted kingship over Israel to David in perpetuity — to him and to his sons, under a covenant of salt? 6But Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon son of David’s own servants, stood up and revolted against his master. 7Empty men, worthless troublemakers, rallied round him and forced their will on Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and faint-hearted and could not hold his own against them. 8And now you intend to hold your own against the kingdom of Yahweh, which is in the hands of David’s sons — you, a vast horde, with the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods. 9Have you not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made yourselves priests as the peoples of other lands do? Anyone who comes to be installed with a young bull and seven rams becomes a priest of what are not gods at all. 10But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not abandoned him. Our priests, who serve Yahweh, are sons of Aaron, and the Levites are at their work. 11Morning by morning and evening by evening they burn to Yahweh the burnt offerings and the fragrant incense; they set out the rows of bread on the clean table, and light the golden lampstand with its lamps every evening. We keep the charge of Yahweh our God — but you have abandoned him. 12See, God is with us, at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm, to sound the alarm against you. Israelites, do not fight against Yahweh, the God of your ancestors: you will not succeed.”
The Battle Won, and Abijah’s Reign
13Meanwhile Jeroboam had sent an ambush round to come at them from behind, so that his men were in front of Judah and the ambush behind. 14Judah turned and found the battle both in front of them and behind. They cried out to Yahweh, while the priests blew the trumpets 15and the men of Judah raised the war cry. And as the men of Judah raised the cry, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel down before Abijah and Judah. 16Israel took flight before Judah, and God handed them over. 17Abijah and his troops dealt them a crushing blow: five hundred thousand picked men of Israel fell slain. 18So the Israelites were brought low at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, because they had leaned on Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. 19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took towns from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephrain with its villages. 20Jeroboam never recovered his strength in the days of Abijah; and Yahweh struck him down, and he died. 21But Abijah grew strong. He took fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22What else Abijah did, his conduct and his words, stands written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo. 23[14:1]Abijah lay down with his ancestors and they buried him in the City of David, and Asa his son became king in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years.
