Study Desk

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

He reigned three years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel, from Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

And Abijah joined the battle with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men. And Jeroboam had set the battle in order with him, with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty men of valor.

And Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim in the hills of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel.

Do you not know that Jehovah the God of Israel has given the kingdom to David over Israel forever, to him and to his sons, a covenant of salt?

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David has risen up and rebelled against his lord.

And vain men gathered to him, sons of worthlessness, and they made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon; and Rehoboam was a youth and tender of heart, and could not be strong against them.

And now you think to be strong against the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David. And you are a great host; yea, with you are calves of gold that Jeroboam has made as gods to you.

Have you not thrown out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a bull, a son of the herd, and sevenrams, even he becomes a priest to no gods.

As for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; yea, priests are serving Jehovah, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, in the work,

and are offering to Jehovah burnt offerings morning by morning, and evening by evening, and sweet incense, and the Bread of Arrangement on the pure table, and the golden lampstand and its lamps, to burn evening by evening. For we are keepingthe charge of Jehovah our God. And surely you have forsaken Him.

And, behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests, and the trumpets, the signal to sound for battle against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight with Jehovah, the God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper.

But Jeroboam had made the ambush circle to come in behind them, and they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

And Judah turned. And, behold, the battle was against them before and behind. And they cried to Jehovah, and the priests were blowing with trumpets.

And the men of Judah shouted. And it was, at the shouting of the men of Judah, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

And the sons of Israel fled from the face of Judah, and God gave them into their hand.

And Abijah and his people struck them with a great blow, and five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell slain.

And the sons of Israel were humbled at that time, and the sons of Judah were strong. For they leaned on Jehovah the God of their fathers.

And Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured cities from him: Bethel and its villages, and Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephrain and its villages.