2 Chronicles 13:4-12

New International Version

⁴ Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,^(A) in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel,^(B) listen to me! ⁵ Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever^(C) by a covenant of salt?^{(D) 6} Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled^(E) against his master. ⁷ Some worthless scoundrels^(F) gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive^(G) and not strong enough to resist them.

⁸ “And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants.^(H) You are indeed a vast army and have with you^(I) the golden calves^(J) that Jeroboam made to be your gods. ⁹ But didn’t you drive out the priests^(K) of the Lord,^(L) the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull^(M) and seven rams^(N) may become a priest of what are not gods.^(O)

¹⁰ “As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. ¹¹ Every morning and evening^(P) they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense^(Q) to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table^(R) and light the lamps^(S) on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him. ¹² God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you.^(T) People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord,^(U) the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”^(V)