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."
13
But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them; so they were before Judah and the ambush 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.