Chapter
2 Chronicles 13

Book of 2 Chronicles - Chapter 13

2 Chronicles 13:1

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

2 Chronicles 13:2

Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

2 Chronicles 13:3

Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor.

2 Chronicles 13:4

Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel:

2 Chronicles 13:5

Ought you not to know that the LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

2 Chronicles 13:6

Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.

2 Chronicles 13:7

There were gathered to him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

2 Chronicles 13:8

"Now you think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.

2 Chronicles 13:9

Haven't you driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves after the ways of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of [those who are] no gods.

2 Chronicles 13:10

"But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and [we have] priests ministering to the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work:

2 Chronicles 13:11

and they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense: the show bread also [set they] in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening: for we keep the instruction of the LORD our God; but you have forsaken him.

2 Chronicles 13:12

Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don't fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper."

2 Chronicles 13:13

But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

2 Chronicles 13:14

When Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

2 Chronicles 13:15

Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened, that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

2 Chronicles 13:16

The children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand.

2 Chronicles 13:17

Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

2 Chronicles 13:18

Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 13:19

Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephron with its towns.

2 Chronicles 13:20

Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

2 Chronicles 13:21

But Abijah grew mighty, and took to himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.

2 Chronicles 13:22

The rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.

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