2 Chronicles 13

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah	1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah;
2 and reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.When war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam,	2 he reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 Abijah took the field with an army of four hundred thousand picked warriors, while Jeroboam took thefield against him with eight hundred thousand picked warriors.	3 Abijah joined battle with a force of four hundred thousand picked warriors, while Jeroboam lined up against him in battle with eight hundred thousand picked and valiant warriors.
4 Abijah took position on Mount Zemaraim, in the highlands of Ephraim. 'Jeroboam and al Israel,' hecried, 'listen to me!	4 Abijah stood on Mount Zemariam, which is in the highlands of Ephraim, and said: "Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!
5 Do you not know that Yahweh, God of Israel, has given eternal sovereignty of Israel to David and hissons by an inviolable covenant?	5 Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingdom of Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons, by a covenant made in salt?
6 Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, the slave of Solomon son of David, rose in revolt against his master.	6 Yet Jeroboam, son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, son of David, has stood up and rebelled against his lord!
7 Worthless men, scoundrels, ral ied to him, proving too strong for Rehoboam son of Solomon, asRehoboam was then inexperienced and timid and unable to resist them.	7 Worthless men, scoundrels, joined him and overcame Rehoboam, son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and unthinking, and no match for them.
8 And now you propose to resist Yahweh's sovereignty as exercised by the sons of David becausethere is a great number of you and you have the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods!	8 But now, do you think you are a match for the kingdom of the LORD commanded by the sons of David, simply because you are a huge multitude and have with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods?
9 Have you not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, to make priests ofyour own like the peoples of foreign countries? Anyone who comes with a bul and seven rams to get himselfconsecrated can become priest of these gods that are no gods.	9 "Have you not expelled the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of foreign lands? Everyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams becomes a priest of no-gods.
10 But for our part, our God is Yahweh, and we have not abandoned him; our priests are sons of Aaronwho minister to Yahweh, and those who serve are Levites;	10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests ministering to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites also have their offices.
11 morning after morning, evening after evening, they present burnt offerings and perfumed incense toYahweh, they put the bread of permanent offering on the clean table and nightly light the lamps on the goldenlamp-stand; for we keep the decree of Yahweh our God, although you have abandoned him.	11 They burn holocausts to the LORD and fragrant incense morning after morning and evening after evening; they display the showbread on the pure table, and the lamps of the golden lampstand burn evening after evening; for we observe our duties to the LORD, our God, but you have abandoned him.
12 See how God is with us, at our head, and his priests with trumpets to sound the alarm against you!Israelites, do not make war on Yahweh, God of your ancestors, for you wil not succeed.'	12 See, God is with us, at our head, and his priests are here with trumpets to sound the attack against you. Do not battle against the LORD, the God of your fathers, O Israelites, for you will not succeed!"
13 Now Jeroboam had sent a party round to ambush them from the rear; thus the main force confrontedJudah and the ambush lay to their rear.	13 But Jeroboam had an ambush go around them to come at them from the rear; so that while his army faced Judah, his ambush lay behind them.
14 And when Judah looked round, they found themselves being attacked from front and rear. Theycal ed on Yahweh, the priests sounded the trumpets,	14 When Judah turned and saw that they had to battle on both fronts, they cried out to the LORD and the priests sounded the trumpets.
15 and the men of Judah raised the war cry and, as they raised the cry, God routed Jeroboam and allIsrael before Abijah and Judah.	15 Then the men of Judah shouted; and when they did so, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 So the Israelites fled before Judah, because God had given Judah the upper hand,	16 The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands.
17 and Abijah and his army inflicted a great slaughter on them: five hundred thousand of Israel's pickedmen fel , kil ed.	17 Abijah and his people inflicted a severe defeat upon them; five hundred thousand picked men of Israel fell slain.
18 So the Israelites were humbled on that occasion, while the Judaeans won, since they had relied onYahweh, God of their ancestors.	18 The Israelites were subdued on that occasion and the Judahites were victorious because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.
19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam, taking from him the towns of Bethel with its dependencies, Jeshanah withits dependencies and Ephron with its dependencies,	19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took cities from him: Bethel and its dependencies, Jeshanah and its dependencies, and Ephron and its dependencies.
20 nor did Jeroboam regain strength during Abijah's lifetime. Eventual y Yahweh struck him and he died,	20 Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah; the LORD struck him down and he died,
21 but Abijah grew stronger than ever; he married fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons andsixteen daughters.	21 while Abijah continued to grow stronger. He took to himself fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22 The rest of the history of Abijah, his conduct and his sayings, are recorded in the midrash of theprophet Iddo.	22 The rest of Abijah's acts, his deeds and his words, are written in the midrash of the prophet Iddo.
23 When Abijah fel asleep with his ancestors, he was buried in the City of David; his son Asasucceeded him. In his time the country was at peace for ten years.	23 Abijah rested with his ancestors; they buried him in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king. During his time, ten years of peace began in the land.