2 Chronicles 13

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

In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam — Abijah reigneth over Judah;

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

three years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, (and the name of his mother [is] Michaiah daughter of Uriel, from Gibeah, ) and war hath been between Abijah and Jeroboam.

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.

And Abijah directeth the war with a force of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men, and Jeroboam hath set in array with him battle, with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty of valour.

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

And Abijah riseth up on the hill of Zemaraim that [is] in the hill-country of Ephraim, and saith, 'Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel!

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

Is it not for you to know that Jehovah, God of Israel, hath given the kingdom to David over Israel to the age, to him and to his sons — a covenant of salt?

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

and rise up doth Jeroboam, son of Nebat, servant of Solomon son of David, and rebelleth against his lord!

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.

'And there are gathered unto him vain men, sons of worthlessness, and they strengthen themselves against Rehoboam son of Solomon, and Rehoboam was a youth, and tender of heart, and hath not strengthened himself against them.

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

'And now, ye are saying to strengthen yourselves before the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David, and ye [are] a numerous multitude, and with you calves of gold that Jeroboam hath made to you for gods.

9 Haven't you driven out the priests of YHWH, 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.

'Have ye not cast out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make to you priests like the peoples of the lands? every one who hath come to fill his hand with a bullock, a son of the herd, and seven rams, even he hath been a priest to No-gods!

10 "But as for us, YHWH is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and we have priests ministering to YHWH, the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites in their work:

'As for us, Jehovah [is] our God, and we have not forsaken Him, and priests are ministering to Jehovah, sons of Aaron and the Levites, in the work,

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

and are making perfume to Jehovah, burnt-offerings morning by morning, and evening by evening, and perfume of spices, and the arrangement of bread [is] on the pure table, and the candlestick of gold, and its lamps, to burn evening by evening, for we are keeping the charge of Jehovah our God, and ye — ye have forsaken Him.

12 Look, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, do not fight against YHWH, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper."

'And lo, with us — at [our] head — [is] God, and His priests and trumpets of shouting to shout against you; O sons of Israel, do not fight with Jehovah, God of your fathers, for ye do not prosper.'

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

And Jeroboam hath brought round the ambush to come in from behind them, and they are before Judah, and the ambush [is] behind them.

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

And Judah turneth, and lo, against them [is] the battle, before and behind, and they cry to Jehovah, and the priests are blowing with trumpets,

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.

and the men of Judah shout — and it cometh to pass, at the shouting of the men of Judah, that God hath smitten Jeroboam, and all Israel, before Abijah and Judah.

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

And the sons of Israel flee from the face of Judah, and God giveth them into their hand,

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

and Abijah and his people smite among them a great smiting, and there fall wounded of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

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

And the sons of Israel are humbled at that time, and the sons of Judah are strong, for they have leant on Jehovah, God of their fathers.

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

And Abijah pursueth after Jeroboam, and captureth from him cities, Beth-El and its small towns, and Jeshanah and its small towns, and Ephraim and its small towns.

20 Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah. YHWH struck him, and he died.

And Jeroboam hath not retained power any more in the days of Abijah, and Jehovah smiteth him, and he dieth.

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

And Abijah strengtheneth himself, and taketh to him fourteen wives, and begetteth twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters,

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

and the rest of the matters of Abijah, and his ways, and his words, are written in the 'Inquiry' of the prophet Iddo.