2
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. Also 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 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 valor.
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 kingship 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, hath 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 are a great multitude, and there are with you 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 priests for yourselves in 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, who 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 showbread 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."