2 Chronicles 13:1

THE MESSAGE

In the eighteenth year of the rule of King Jeroboam, Abijah took over the throne of Judah. He ruled in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. War broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah started out with 400,000 of his best soldiers; Jeroboam countered with 800,000 of his best. Abijah took a prominent position on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and gave this speech: "Listen, Jeroboam and all Israel! Don't you realize that God , the one and only God of Israel, established David and his sons as the permanent rulers of Israel, ratified by a ‘covenant of salt'— God 's kingdom ruled by God 's king? And what happened? Jeroboam, the son of Solomon's slave Nebat, rebelled against his master. All the riffraff joined his cause and were too much for Rehoboam, Solomon's true heir. Rehoboam didn't know his way around—besides he was a real wimp; he couldn't stand up against them. "Taking advantage of that weakness, you are asserting yourself against the very rule of God that is delegated to David's descendants—you think you are so big with your huge army backed up by the golden-calf idols that Jeroboam made for you as gods! But just look at what you've done—you threw out the priests of God , the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests to suit yourselves, priests just like the pagans have. Anyone who shows up with enough money to pay for it can be a priest! A priest of No-God! "But for the rest of us in Judah, we're sticking with God . We have not traded him in for the latest model—we're keeping the tried-and-true priests of Aaron to lead us to God and the Levites to lead us in worship by sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and aromatic incense to God at the daily morning and evening prayers, setting out fresh holy bread on a clean table, and lighting the lamps on the golden Lampstand every night. We continue doing what God told us to in the way he told us to do it; but you have rid yourselves of him. "Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side; he's our leader. And his priests with trumpets are all ready to blow the signal to battle. O Israel—don't fight against God , the God of your ancestors. You will not win this battle." While Abijah was speaking, Jeroboam had sent men around to take them by surprise from the rear: Jeroboam in front of Judah and the ambush behind. When Judah looked back, they saw they were attacked front and back. They prayed desperately to God , the priests blew their trumpets, and the soldiers of Judah shouted their battle cry. At the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. The army of Israel scattered before Judah; God gave them the victory. Abijah and his troops slaughtered them—500,000 of Israel's best fighters were killed that day. The army of Israel fell flat on its face—a humiliating defeat. The army of Judah won hands down because they trusted God , the God of their ancestors. Abijah followed up his victory by pursuing Jeroboam, taking the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron with their surrounding villages. Jeroboam never did recover from his defeat while Abijah lived. Later on God struck him down and he died. Meanwhile Abijah flourished; he married fourteen wives and ended up with a family of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. The rest of the history of Abijah, what he did and said, is written in the study written by Iddo the prophet.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah,

Hebrew Names Version
In the eighteenth year of king Yarov`am began Aviyah to reign over Yehudah.

King James Version
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

English Standard Version
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

New Century Version
Abijah became the king of Judah during the eighteenth year Jeroboam was king of Israel.

New English Translation
In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

Amplified Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

New American Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

World English Bible
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

Geneva Bible (1587)
In the eyghteenth yeere of King Ieroboam began Abiiah to reigne ouer Iudah.

Legacy Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

Berean Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah,

Contemporary English Version
Abijah became king of Judah in Jeroboam's eighteenth year as king of Israel,

Complete Jewish Bible
It was in the eighteenth year of King Yarov‘am that Aviyah began his reign over Y'hudah.

Darby Translation
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

Easy-to-Read Version
Abijah became the new king of Judah. This was during the 18th year that Jeroboam son of Nebat ruled Israel.

George Lamsa Translation
IN the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat Abijah began to reign over the tribe of Judah.

Good News Translation
In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam of Israel, Abijah became king of Judah,

Lexham English Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah reigned over Judah.

Literal Translation
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
In the eightenth yeare of kynge Ieroboam, was Abia kynge in Iuda,

American Standard Version
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

Bible in Basic English
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The eyghteenth yere of king Ieroboam began Abia to raigne ouer Iuda.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

King James Version (1611)
Nowe in the eighteenth yeere of king Ieroboam, began Abiiah to reigne ouer Iudah.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam Abia began to reign over Juda.

English Revised Version
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Yn the eiytenthe yeer of kyng Jeroboam Abia regnede on Juda;

Update Bible Version
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

New King James Version
1 Kings 15:1-8">[xr] In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

New Living Translation
Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign in Israel.

New Life Bible
Abijah became the king of Judah in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam.

New Revised Standard
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, began Abijah to reign over Judah:

Douay-Rheims Bible
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abia reigned over Juda.

Revised Standard Version
In the eighteenth year of King Jerobo'am Abi'jah began to reign over Judah.

Young's Literal Translation
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam -- Abijah reigneth over Judah;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.

Contextual Overview

¹In the eighteenth year of the rule of King Jeroboam, Abijah took over the throne of Judah. He ruled in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. War broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah started out with 400,000 of his best soldiers; Jeroboam countered with 800,000 of his best. Abijah took a prominent position on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and gave this speech: "Listen, Jeroboam and all Israel! Don't you realize that God , the one and only God of Israel, established David and his sons as the permanent rulers of Israel, ratified by a ‘covenant of salt'— God 's kingdom ruled by God 's king? And what happened? Jeroboam, the son of Solomon's slave Nebat, rebelled against his master. All the riffraff joined his cause and were too much for Rehoboam, Solomon's true heir. Rehoboam didn't know his way around—besides he was a real wimp; he couldn't stand up against them. "Taking advantage of that weakness, you are asserting yourself against the very rule of God that is delegated to David's descendants—you think you are so big with your huge army backed up by the golden-calf idols that Jeroboam made for you as gods! But just look at what you've done—you threw out the priests of God , the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests to suit yourselves, priests just like the pagans have. Anyone who shows up with enough money to pay for it can be a priest! A priest of No-God! "But for the rest of us in Judah, we're sticking with God . We have not traded him in for the latest model—we're keeping the tried-and-true priests of Aaron to lead us to God and the Levites to lead us in worship by sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and aromatic incense to God at the daily morning and evening prayers, setting out fresh holy bread on a clean table, and lighting the lamps on the golden Lampstand every night. We continue doing what God told us to in the way he told us to do it; but you have rid yourselves of him. "Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side; he's our leader. And his priests with trumpets are all ready to blow the signal to battle. O Israel—don't fight against God , the God of your ancestors. You will not win this battle." While Abijah was speaking, Jeroboam had sent men around to take them by surprise from the rear: Jeroboam in front of Judah and the ambush behind. When Judah looked back, they saw they were attacked front and back. They prayed desperately to God , the priests blew their trumpets, and the soldiers of Judah shouted their battle cry. At the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. The army of Israel scattered before Judah; God gave them the victory. Abijah and his troops slaughtered them—500,000 of Israel's best fighters were killed that day. The army of Israel fell flat on its face—a humiliating defeat. The army of Judah won hands down because they trusted God , the God of their ancestors. Abijah followed up his victory by pursuing Jeroboam, taking the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron with their surrounding villages. Jeroboam never did recover from his defeat while Abijah lived. Later on God struck him down and he died. Meanwhile Abijah flourished; he married fourteen wives and ended up with a family of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. The rest of the history of Abijah, what he did and said, is written in the study written by Iddo the prophet. ³King Abijah In the eighteenth year of the rule of King Jeroboam, Abijah took over the throne of Judah. He ruled in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. War broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah started out with 400,000 of his best soldiers; Jeroboam countered with 800,000 of his best. ⁴Abijah took a prominent position on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and gave this speech: "Listen, Jeroboam and all Israel! Don't you realize that God , the one and only God of Israel, established David and his sons as the permanent rulers of Israel, ratified by a ‘covenant of salt'— God 's kingdom ruled by God 's king? And what happened? Jeroboam, the son of Solomon's slave Nebat, rebelled against his master. All the riffraff joined his cause and were too much for Rehoboam, Solomon's true heir. Rehoboam didn't know his way around—besides he was a real wimp; he couldn't stand up against them. ⁸"Taking advantage of that weakness, you are asserting yourself against the very rule of God that is delegated to David's descendants—you think you are so big with your huge army backed up by the golden-calf idols that Jeroboam made for you as gods! But just look at what you've done—you threw out the priests of God , the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests to suit yourselves, priests just like the pagans have. Anyone who shows up with enough money to pay for it can be a priest! A priest of No-God! ¹⁰"But for the rest of us in Judah, we're sticking with God . We have not traded him in for the latest model—we're keeping the tried-and-true priests of Aaron to lead us to God and the Levites to lead us in worship by sacrificing Whole-Burnt-Offerings and aromatic incense to God at the daily morning and evening prayers, setting out fresh holy bread on a clean table, and lighting the lamps on the golden Lampstand every night. We continue doing what God told us to in the way he told us to do it; but you have rid yourselves of him. ¹² "Can't you see the obvious? God is on our side; he's our leader. And his priests with trumpets are all ready to blow the signal to battle. O Israel—don't fight against God , the God of your ancestors. You will not win this battle."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3046-3049, bc 958-955

in the eighteenth: 2 Chronicles 12:16, 1 Kings 15:1-8

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 3:10 - Abia

Cross-References

Genesis 20:1
Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down between Kadesh and Shur. While he was camping in Gerar, Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She's my sister." So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, "You're as good as dead—that woman you took, she's a married woman." Now Abimelech had not yet slept with her, hadn't so much as touched her. He said, "Master, would you kill an innocent man? Didn't he tell me, ‘She's my sister'? And didn't she herself say, ‘He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I did this." God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know your intentions were pure, that's why I kept you from sinning against me; I was the one who kept you from going to bed with her. So now give the man's wife back to him. He's a prophet and will pray for you—pray for your life. If you don't give her back, know that it's certain death both for you and everyone in your family." Abimelech was up first thing in the morning. He called all his house servants together and told them the whole story. They were shocked. Then Abimelech called in Abraham and said, "What have you done to us? What have I ever done to you that you would bring on me and my kingdom this huge offense? What you've done to me ought never to have been done." Abimelech went on to Abraham, "Whatever were you thinking of when you did this thing?" Abraham said, "I just assumed that there was no fear of God in this place and that they'd kill me to get my wife. Besides, the truth is that she is my half sister; she's my father's daughter but not my mother's. When God sent me out as a wanderer from my father's home, I told her, ‘Do me a favor; wherever we go, tell people that I'm your brother.'" Then Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham, and along with her sent sheep and cattle and servants, both male and female. He said, "My land is open to you; live wherever you wish." And to Sarah he said, "I've given your brother a thousand pieces of silver—that clears you of even a shadow of suspicion before the eyes of the world. You're vindicated." Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his maidservants, and they started having babies again. For God had shut down every womb in Abimelech's household on account of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Genesis 21:33
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and worshiped God there, praying to the Eternal God. Abraham lived in Philistine country for a long time.

Joshua 10:40
Joshua took the whole country: hills, desert, foothills, and mountain slopes, including all kings. He left no survivors. He carried out the holy curse on everything that breathed, just as God , the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua's conquest stretched from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the entire region of Goshen to Gibeon. Joshua took all these kings and their lands in a single campaign because God , the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

1 Samuel 27:10
Achish would ask, "And whom did you raid today?" David would tell him, "Oh, the Negev of Judah," or "The Negev of Jerahmeel," or "The Negev of the Kenites." He never left a single person alive lest one show up in Gath and report what David had really been doing. This is the way David operated all the time he lived in Philistine country.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The history of Abijah’s reign is here related far more fully than in Kings (marginal reference), especially as regards his war with Jeroboam.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XIII

Abijah begins to reign over Judah, and has war with Jeroboam,

1-3.

His speech from Mount Zemaraim to Jeroboam, before the

commencement of hostilities, 4-12.

While thus engaged, Jeroboam despatches some troops which come

on the rear of Abijah's army, 13.

Perceiving this, they cry unto the Lord, and the Israelites are

defeated with the loss of five hundred thousand men, 14-18.

Abijah retakes several cities from Jeroboam, who is smitten by

the Lord, and dies, 19, 20.

Abijah's marriages and issue, 21, 22.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIII