1
Now in the year eighteen of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
2
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name
was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3
And Abijah set the battle in order with an army of valiant men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men; and Jeroboam 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 the mountains of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel;
5
do ye not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, unto him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
6
Yet Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the slave of Solomon the son of David, is risen up and has rebelled against his lord.
7
And there are gathered unto him vain men, the sons 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 because ye
are a great multitude, and ye have with you the golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.