Abijah Faces Jeroboam

Abijah began to reign over Judah in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam of Israel. He ruled for three years in Jerusalem, and there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Kings also says that Abijah did not serve the Lord with a whole heart like David.

When the armies met, Abijah went out with four hundred thousand chosen men, while Jeroboam arranged eight hundred thousand. Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and called to Jeroboam and all Israel. He said the Lord had given the kingdom to David's house, and he accused Jeroboam of rebellion and of setting up calf idols.

Abijah said that Israel had cast out the Lord's priests and made its own priests, but Judah still had the sons of Aaron and the Levites serving at the altar, with offerings, incense, bread, lamps, and trumpets. He warned Israel not to fight against the Lord, because they would not succeed.

But Jeroboam sent an ambush behind Judah, so Judah found enemies in front and behind. Then the people of Judah cried to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets. The men of Judah shouted, and God struck Jeroboam and Israel before Abijah and Judah. Israel fled, and a great slaughter followed, because Judah relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers.

Abijah chased Jeroboam and took Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron with their villages. Chronicles says Jeroboam did not recover strength again during Abijah's days, and that the Lord struck him so that he died. Abijah became mighty, and when he died and was buried in David's city, Asa his son reigned in his place. Kings says that for David's sake, the Lord kept a lamp for his line in Jerusalem.