Chronicles of the Past Dynasties_Chapter 13

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah,

He reigned in Jerusalem for three years. His mother’s name was Micaia, the daughter of Uriel the Gibeah. Abijah often fought against Jeroboam.

Once Abijah led a selection of 400000 soldiers to form a formation, all of whom were brave warriors. Jeroboam also selected eight hundred thousand mighty warriors and set them in formation against Abijah.

Abijah stood on Mount Zimaraim in the mountains of Ephraim and said, “Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel.”.

Do you not know that the Lord, the God of Israel, made a covenant of salt, which means that the land of Israel was given to David and his descendants forever?

Unfortunately, Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master.

Some rogue bandits gathered and followed him, showing off their strength and attacking Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. At that time, Loboan was still young and weak, unable to resist them.

Now you intend to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is under the rule of the children of David, and your people are also many. You also have a golden calf that Jeroboam has made for you as a God.

Aren’t you driving out the descendants of Aaron, the priest of the Lord, and the Levites? Aren’t you setting up priests for yourself according to the evil customs of the Gentiles? Whoever leads a young bull and seven male sheep sets themselves apart, they can become priests to the God of Nothingness.

As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have priests who serve the Lord, all of whom are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites each fulfill their duties,

Every morning and evening, offer burnt offerings to the Lord, burn fragrant incense, and set display cakes on a table of pure gold. There are also golden lampstands and lamps that light every night, because we keep the word of the Lord our God. Only you have abandoned him.

God is leading us, and we also have God’s priests with trumpets blowing loudly at you. O Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not be able to prosper.

But Jeroboam set up an ambush behind the Jews. So the Israelites were ahead of the Jews, and the ambush was behind them.

The Jews turned around and saw enemy soldiers both in front and behind. They called out to the Lord, and the priests sounded their trumpets.

So the people of Judah shouted. When the Jews shouted, God caused Jeroboam and all Israel to be defeated before Abijah and Judah.

The Israelites fled before the Jews, and God handed them over to them.

Abijah and his army greatly slaughtered the Israelites, and five hundred thousand elite soldiers fell and died.

At that time, the Israelites were subdued, and the Jews prevailed because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured several of his cities, including Bethel and its towns, Jeshanah and its towns, Ephraim and its towns.

During Abijah’s lifetime, Jeroboam could no longer be strong. The Lord attacked him, and he died.

But Abijah gradually became stronger and took fourteen wives and concubines, giving birth to twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

The rest of Abijah’s events and his words and deeds are written in the book of the prophet Iddo.