1 Abijah|strong="H0029" became|strong="H4427" the|strong="H5921" new king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063". This was|strong="H4428" during the|strong="H5921" 18th year|strong="H8141" that|strong="H8141" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" son of|strong="H4428" Nebat ruled|strong="H4427" Israel.
2 Abijah|strong="H0029" ruled|strong="H4427" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" for|strong="H3389" three|strong="H7969" years|strong="H8141". His|strong="H1961" mother’s|strong="H0517" name|strong="H8034" was|strong="H8034" Maacah. She|strong="H0517" was|strong="H8034" the|strong="H4480" daughter|strong="H1323" of|strong="H1323" Uriel|strong="H0222", from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H4480" town of|strong="H1323" Gibeah|strong="H1390". And|strong="H3389" there|strong="H1961" was|strong="H8034" war|strong="H4421" between|strong="H0996" Abijah|strong="H0029" and|strong="H3389" Jeroboam|strong="H3379".
3 Abijah’s|strong="H0029" army|strong="H2428" had|strong="H0376" 400,000 brave|strong="H2428" soldiers|strong="H0376". Abijah|strong="H0029" led that|strong="H4421" army|strong="H2428" into|strong="H0376" battle|strong="H4421". Jeroboam’s|strong="H3379" army|strong="H2428" had|strong="H0376" 800,000 brave|strong="H2428" soldiers|strong="H0376". Jeroboam|strong="H3379" got ready|strong="H0631" to|strong="H0376" have|strong="H0376" a|strong="H0376" war|strong="H4421" with|strong="H5973" Abijah|strong="H0029".
4 Then|strong="H6965" Abijah|strong="H0029" stood|strong="H6965" on|strong="H5921" Mount|strong="H2022" Zemaraim|strong="H6787" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" hill|strong="H2022" country|strong="H2022" of|strong="H2022" Ephraim|strong="H0669" and|strong="H6965" said|strong="H0559", “Jeroboam|strong="H3379" and|strong="H6965" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478", listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H5921"!
5 You|strong="H3588" should|strong="H3068" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H5921" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478", gave|strong="H5414" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H5414" sons|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" right to|strong="H5921" be|strong="H3808" king|strong="H5921" over|strong="H5921" Israel|strong="H3478" forever|strong="H5769". God|strong="H0430" gave|strong="H5414" this|strong="H3588" right to|strong="H5921" David|strong="H1732" with|strong="H3068" an|strong="H5414" agreement|strong="H1285" of|strong="H1121" salt|strong="H4417".
6 But|strong="H5921" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" turned against|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" master|strong="H0113". Jeroboam|strong="H3379" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nebat|strong="H5028" was|strong="H1732" one|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" servants|strong="H5650" of|strong="H1121" David’s|strong="H1732" son|strong="H1121" Solomon|strong="H8010".
7 Then|strong="H1961" worthless|strong="H1100", evil|strong="H1100" men|strong="H0376" became|strong="H1961" friends with|strong="H5921" Jeroboam. Then|strong="H1961" Jeroboam and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H6440" bad men|strong="H0376" turned|strong="H1961" against|strong="H5921" Rehoboam|strong="H7346", Solomon’s|strong="H8010" son|strong="H1121". Rehoboam|strong="H7346" was|strong="H1961" young|strong="H5288" and|strong="H1121" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" have|strong="H1961" experience. So|strong="H1961" he|strong="H3808" could|strong="H0376" not|strong="H3808" stop|strong="H3808" Jeroboam and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H5921" bad friends.
8 “Now|strong="H6258", you|strong="H0859" people|strong="H1121" have|strong="H0834" decided|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" defeat the|strong="H0559" LORD’S|strong="H3068" kingdom|strong="H4467"—the|strong="H0559" kingdom|strong="H4467" that|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" ruled by|strong="H3027" David’s|strong="H1732" sons|strong="H1121". You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0834" so|strong="H6213" many|strong="H7227" people|strong="H1121" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H0859" and|strong="H1121" you|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" golden|strong="H2091" calves|strong="H5695"—the|strong="H0559" ‘gods’ that|strong="H0834" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" made|strong="H6213" for|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0859".
9 You|strong="H3605" threw out|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" LORD’S|strong="H3068" priests|strong="H3548", the|strong="H3605" descendants|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Aaron|strong="H0175". And|strong="H1121" you|strong="H3605" threw out|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Levites|strong="H3881". Then|strong="H1961" you|strong="H3605" chose|strong="H6213" your|strong="H3068" own|strong="H1961" priests|strong="H3548", as|strong="H1961" every|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" nation|strong="H5971" on|strong="H0776" earth|strong="H0776" does|strong="H6213". And|strong="H1121" now|strong="H1961", anyone|strong="H3605" who|strong="H3605" will|strong="H3068" bring|strong="H0935" a|strong="H1961" young|strong="H1121" bull|strong="H6499" and|strong="H1121" seven|strong="H7651" rams|strong="H0352" can|strong="H6213" become|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" priest|strong="H3548" to|strong="H0935" serve|strong="H1961" these|strong="H3605" ‘no-gods.’
10 “But|strong="H3808" as|strong="H3068" for|strong="H3068" us, the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" our|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430". We|strong="H0587" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah have|strong="H1121" not|strong="H3808" refused|strong="H3808" to|strong="H3068" obey God|strong="H0430". We|strong="H0587" have|strong="H1121" not|strong="H3808" left|strong="H5800" him|strong="H0430". The|strong="H3068" priests|strong="H3548" who|strong="H3068" serve|strong="H8334" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" are|strong="H1121" Aaron’s|strong="H0175" sons|strong="H1121", and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3068" Levites|strong="H3881" help the|strong="H3068" priests|strong="H3548" in|strong="H0430" their|strong="H3068" work|strong="H4399".
11 They|strong="H3588" offer|strong="H6999" burnt|strong="H5930" offerings|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" burn|strong="H6999" incense|strong="H7004" of|strong="H0430" spices|strong="H5561" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" every|strong="H1242" morning|strong="H1242" and|strong="H3068" every|strong="H1242" evening|strong="H6153". They|strong="H3588" put the|strong="H0853" bread|strong="H3899" in|strong="H5921" rows|strong="H4635" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" special table|strong="H7979" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Temple. And|strong="H3068" they|strong="H3588" take|strong="H8104" care|strong="H4931" of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0853" lamps|strong="H5216" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" golden|strong="H2091" lampstand|strong="H4501" so|strong="H3588" that|strong="H3588" it|strong="H5921" shines bright each|strong="H7979" and|strong="H3068" every|strong="H1242" evening|strong="H6153". We|strong="H0587" very carefully|strong="H8104" serve the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" our|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430", but|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" people|strong="H5800" have|strong="H0859" abandoned|strong="H5800" him|strong="H5921".
12 God|strong="H0430" himself|strong="H3808" is|strong="H3068" with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H5921". He|strong="H3588" is|strong="H3068" our|strong="H3068" ruler, and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H5921" priests|strong="H3548" are|strong="H3478" with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H5921". God’s|strong="H0430" priests|strong="H3548" blow his|strong="H5921" trumpets|strong="H2689" to|strong="H5921" wake you|strong="H3588" up|strong="H5921" and|strong="H1121" make|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" excited about|strong="H5921" coming|strong="H2009" to|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921". Men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478", don’t|strong="H0408" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068", God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H1121" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001", because|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" succeed|strong="H6743"!”
13 But|strong="H1961" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" sent a|strong="H1961" group of|strong="H6440" soldiers to|strong="H0935" sneak behind|strong="H0310" Abijah’s army. Jeroboam’s|strong="H3379" army was|strong="H1961" in|strong="H0935" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H6440" Abijah’s army. The|strong="H0853" hidden soldiers from|strong="H0935" Jeroboam’s|strong="H3379" army were|strong="H1961" behind|strong="H0310" Abijah’s army.
14 When|strong="H3068" the|strong="H6440" soldiers|strong="H4421" in|strong="H3068" Abijah’s army|strong="H4421" from|strong="H6440" Judah|strong="H3063" looked|strong="H6437" around|strong="H6440", they|strong="H3068" saw|strong="H2009" Jeroboam’s army|strong="H4421" attacking both|strong="H4421" in|strong="H3068" front|strong="H6440" and|strong="H3068" in|strong="H3068" back|strong="H0268". The|strong="H6440" men of|strong="H3068" Judah|strong="H3063" shouted|strong="H6817" out|strong="H6440" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H6440" priests|strong="H3548" blew|strong="H2690" the|strong="H6440" trumpets|strong="H2689".
15 Then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0430" Abijah’s|strong="H0029" army shouted|strong="H7321". When|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Judah|strong="H3063" shouted|strong="H7321", God|strong="H0430" defeated|strong="H5062" Jeroboam’s|strong="H3379" army. Jeroboam’s|strong="H3379" whole|strong="H3605" army from|strong="H0376" Israel|strong="H3478" was|strong="H1961" defeated|strong="H5062" by|strong="H3478" Abijah’s|strong="H0029" army from|strong="H0376" Judah|strong="H3063".
16 The|strong="H6440" men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" ran|strong="H5127" away|strong="H5127" from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063". God|strong="H0430" let|strong="H5414" the|strong="H6440" army from|strong="H6440" Judah|strong="H3063" defeat|strong="H5414" the|strong="H6440" army from|strong="H6440" Israel|strong="H3478".
17 Abijah’s|strong="H0029" army|strong="H5971" greatly defeated|strong="H5221" the|strong="H5221" army|strong="H5971" of|strong="H0376" Israel|strong="H3478", and|strong="H3478" 500,000 of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H5221" best men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" Israel|strong="H3478" were|strong="H3478" killed|strong="H5221".
18 So|strong="H3588" at|strong="H5921" that|strong="H3588" time|strong="H6256" the|strong="H5921" Israelites|strong="H3478" were|strong="H3478" defeated, and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" won. The|strong="H5921" army from|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063" won because|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" depended on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H5921" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H1121" their|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001".
19 Abijah’s|strong="H0029" army chased|strong="H7291" Jeroboam’s|strong="H3379" army, and|strong="H1323" they|strong="H0310" captured|strong="H3920" the|strong="H0853" towns|strong="H1323" of|strong="H1323" Bethel|strong="H1008", Jeshanah|strong="H3466", and|strong="H1323" Ephron|strong="H6085" from|strong="H4480" Jeroboam|strong="H3379". They|strong="H0310" captured|strong="H3920" the|strong="H0853" towns|strong="H1323" and|strong="H1323" the|strong="H0853" small villages|strong="H1323" near|strong="H3920" them|strong="H0853".
20 Jeroboam|strong="H3379" never|strong="H3808" became strong|strong="H3581" again|strong="H5750" while|strong="H5750" Abijah|strong="H0029" lived. The|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" killed|strong="H4191" Jeroboam|strong="H3379",
21 but|strong="H2388" Abijah|strong="H0029" became|strong="H3205" strong|strong="H2388". He|strong="H0802" married|strong="H0802" 14 women|strong="H0802" and|strong="H1121" was|strong="H0802" the|strong="H3205" father|strong="H3205" of|strong="H1121" 22 sons|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" 16 daughters|strong="H1323".
22 Everything else Abijah|strong="H0029" did is|strong="H1697" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H3789" the|strong="H1697" books of|strong="H1697" the|strong="H1697" prophet|strong="H5030" Iddo|strong="H5714".