2 Chronicles 13
English Standard Version
Abijah Reigns in Judah
13 (A)In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, (B)Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was (C)Micaiah[a] the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.
(D)Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 Abijah went out to battle, having an army of valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam (E)drew up his line of battle against him with 800,000 chosen mighty warriors. 4 Then Abijah stood up on Mount (F)Zemaraim that is in (G)the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! 5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel (H)gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by (I)a covenant of salt? 6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up (J)and rebelled against his lord, 7 and certain (K)worthless scoundrels[b] gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was (L)young and irresolute[c] and could not withstand them.
8 “And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you (M)the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods. 9 (N)Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes (O)for ordination[d] with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are (P)not gods. 10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. We have priests ministering to the Lord who are sons of Aaron, and Levites for their service. 11 They offer to the Lord (Q)every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense of sweet spices, set out (R)the showbread on the table of pure gold, (S)and care for the golden lampstand that its lamps may (T)burn every evening. For we (U)keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken him. 12 Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests (V)with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O sons of Israel, (W)do not fight against the Lord, the God of your fathers, for you cannot succeed.”
13 Jeroboam had sent (X)an ambush around to come upon them from behind. Thus his troops[e] were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. 14 And when Judah looked, behold, the battle was in front of and behind them. (Y)And they cried to the Lord, and the priests (Z)blew the trumpets. 15 Then the men of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the men of Judah shouted, (AA)God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The men of Israel fled before Judah, (AB)and God gave them into their hand. 17 Abijah and his people struck them with great force, so there fell slain of Israel 500,000 chosen men. 18 Thus the men of Israel were subdued at that time, and the men of Judah prevailed, (AC)because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers. 19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam (AD)and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages and Jeshanah with its villages and (AE)Ephron[f] with its villages. 20 Jeroboam did not recover his power in the days of Abijah. (AF)And the Lord struck him down, (AG)and he died. 21 But Abijah grew mighty. And he took fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways and his sayings, are written in the (AH)story of the prophet (AI)Iddo.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 13:2 Spelled Maacah in 1 Kings 15:2
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 Hebrew worthless men, sons of Belial
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 Hebrew soft of heart
- 2 Chronicles 13:9 Hebrew to fill his hand
- 2 Chronicles 13:13 Hebrew they
- 2 Chronicles 13:19 Or Ephrain
2 Chronicles 13
King James Version
13 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
5 Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with your golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
10 But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
11 And they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the Lord our God; but ye have forsaken him.
12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the Lord God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the Lord, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the Lord God of their fathers.
19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof.
20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the Lord struck him, and he died.
21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
2 Chronicles 13
1599 Geneva Bible
13 1 Abijah maketh war against Jeroboam. 4 He showeth the occasion. 12 He trusteth in the Lord and overcometh Jeroboam. 21 Of his wives and children.
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, began Abijah to reign over [a]Judah.
2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem: (his mother’s name also was [b]Michaiah the daughter of [c]Uriel of Gibeah) and there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijah set the battle in array with the army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men which were strong and valiant.
4 And Abijah stood up upon mount [d]Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, O Jeroboam, and all Israel, hear you me,
5 Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel hath given the kingdom over Israel to [e]David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant [f]of salt?
6 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat the servant of Solomon the son of David is risen up, and hath (A)rebelled against his lord:
7 And there are gathered to him [g]vain men and [h]wicked, and made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon: for Rehoboam was [i]but a child and [j](B)tender hearted, and could not resist them.
8 Now therefore ye think that ye be able to resist against the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of the sons of David, and ye be a great multitude, and the golden calves are with you which Jeroboam made you for gods.
9 (C)Have ye not driven away the Priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made you Priests like the people of other countries? whosoever cometh to [k]consecrate with a [l]young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a Priest of them that are no gods.
10 But we belong unto the Lord our God, and have not forsaken him, and the Priests the sons of Aaron minister unto the Lord, and the Levites in their office.
11 And they burn unto the Lord every [m]morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense, and the bread is set in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the watch of the Lord our God: but ye have forsaken him.
12 And behold, this God is [n]with us as a captain, and his Priests with the sounding trumpets to cry an alarm against you. O ye children of Israel, fight not against the Lord God of your fathers: for ye shall not prosper.
13 ¶ But Jeroboam caused an ambushment [o]to compass, and come behind them, when they were before Judah, and the ambushment behind them.
14 Then Judah looked, and behold, the battle was before and behind them, and they cried unto the Lord, and the Priests blew with the trumpets,
15 And the men of Judah gave a shout: and even as the men of Judah shouted, God [p]smote Jeroboam and also Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand.
17 And Abijah and his people slew a great slaughter of them, so that there fell down wounded of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
18 So the children of Israel were brought under at that time: and the children of Judah prevailed, [q]because they stayed upon the Lord God of their fathers.
19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, even Bethel and the [r]villages thereof, and Jeshanah with her villages, and Ephron with her villages.
20 And Jeroboam recovered no strength again in the days of Abijah, but the Lord plagued him, and he died.
21 So Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters.
22 The rest of the acts of Abijah, and his manners and his sayings, are written in the story of the Prophet Iddo.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 13:1 He meaneth Judah and Benjamin.
- 2 Chronicles 13:2 Or, Maachah, 1 Kings 15:2.
- 2 Chronicles 13:2 Called also Abishalom, for Abishalom was her grandfather, 1 Kings 15:2.
- 2 Chronicles 13:4 Which was one of the tops of mount Ephraim.
- 2 Chronicles 13:5 And therefore whosoever doth usurp it or take it from that stock, transgresseth the ordinance of the Lord. Thus like an hypocrite he allegeth the word of God for his advantage.
- 2 Chronicles 13:5 That is, perpetual because that thing which is salted, is preserved from corruption: he meaneth also that it was made solemnly, and confirmed by offering of sacrifices, where as they used salt according as was ordained, Num. 18:19.
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 This word in the Chaldean tongue is Raca, which our Savior useth, Matt. 5:22.
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 Hebrew, children of Belial.
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 Meaning, in heart and courage.
- 2 Chronicles 13:7 Or, faint hearted.
- 2 Chronicles 13:9 Hebrew, fill his hand.
- 2 Chronicles 13:9 He showeth the nature of idolaters which take no trial of the vocation, life and doctrine of their ministers, but think the most vilest and greatest beasts sufficient to serve their turn.
- 2 Chronicles 13:11 As it was appointed in the Law, Exod. 29:39.
- 2 Chronicles 13:12 Because their cause was good and approved by the Lord, they doubted not of the success and victory.
- 2 Chronicles 13:13 Contemning the good counsel which came of the Spirit of God, he thought to have overcome by deceit.
- 2 Chronicles 13:15 Or, gave him the overthrow.
- 2 Chronicles 13:18 He showeth that the stay of all kingdoms, and assurance of victories depend upon our trust and confidence in the Lord.
- 2 Chronicles 13:19 Hebrew, daughters.
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