2 Chronicles 13
They Cried Out, and God Routed Them
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Abijah King of Judah
13:1In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, Abijah became king over Judah.
13:2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Ouriel from Gabaon. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
13:3Abijah arrayed the battle with a force of powerful warriors, four hundred thousand mighty men. Jeroboam arrayed the battle against him with eight hundred thousand, mighty warriors of strength.
Abijah Speaks on Mount Somoron
13:4Abijah stood on Mount Somoron in Ephraim’s hill country and said, “Listen, Jeroboam and all Israel!
13:5Should you not know that the Lord, Israel’s God, gave kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons, a covenant of salt?
13:6Yet Jeroboam, Nabat’s son, servant of Solomon, David’s son, arose and withdrew from his lord.
13:7Pestilent men, lawless sons, gathered to him, and he opposed Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. Rehoboam was younger and cowardly in heart and did not withstand him.
13:8Now you say you will stand against the Lord’s kingdom through the hands of David’s sons. You are a great multitude, and with you are the gold calves Jeroboam made for you as gods.
13:9Did you not expel the Lord’s priests, Aaron’s sons, and the Levites, and make priests for yourselves from the people of the land? Anyone approaching to fill his hands with a calf from the cattle and seven rams became a priest to the god who does not exist.
13:10But we have not abandoned the Lord our God. His priests minister to the Lord, Aaron’s sons, and the Levites in their appointed courses.
13:11They burn whole burnt offerings to the Lord morning and evening, and compounded incense; bread is presented upon the pure table, and the gold lampstand and its burning lamps are kindled in the evening. For we keep the charges of the Lord, our fathers’ God, but you have abandoned Him.
13:12Look, the Lord is with us in command, with His priests and the signal trumpets to signal against you. Israel’s sons, you will fight against the Lord, our fathers’ God, for it will not prosper for you!”
The Ambush and the Rout of Israel
13:13Jeroboam turned the ambush around to come behind them. He was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind.
13:14Judah turned, and look, the battle was before and behind them! They cried to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets.
13:15Judah’s men cried out. As Judah’s men cried out, the Lord struck Jeroboam and Israel before Abijah and Judah.
13:16Israel’s sons fled before Judah, and the Lord handed them over into their hands.
13:17Abijah and his people struck them a great blow, and five hundred thousand mighty men of Israel fell wounded.
13:18Israel’s sons were humbled on that day, while Judah’s sons prevailed, because they hoped in the Lord, their fathers’ God.
13:19Abijah pursued Jeroboam and seized cities from him: Baithel and its villages, Isana and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.
13:20Jeroboam had no strength again throughout all Abijah’s days. The Lord struck him, and he died.
The Death of Abijah
13:21Abijah grew strong and took fourteen wives. He fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
13:22The remaining deeds of Abijah, his acts, and his words are written in the book of Addo the prophet.
13:23Abijah died with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city. Asa his son became king in his place. In Asa’s days Judah’s land was quiet for ten years.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.