Study Desk

In the eighteenth year^(a) of Israel's King Jeroboam, Abijah^[a] became king over Judah

and reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah^[b](b) daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

Abijah set his army of warriors in order with 400,000 choice men. Jeroboam arranged his mighty army of 800,000 choice men in battle formation against him.

Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,^(c) which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Jeroboam and all Israel, hear me.

Don't you know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever^(d) by a covenant of salt?^(e)

But Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord.^(f)

Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young, inexperienced, and unable to assert himself against them.

"And now you are saying you can assert yourselves against the Lord 's kingdom, which is in the hand of one of David's sons. You are a vast number and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.^[c](g)

Didn't you banish the priests of Yahweh, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do?^(h) Whoever comes to ordain himself⁽ⁱ⁾ with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest^(j) of what are not gods.^(k)

"But as for us, Yahweh is our God. We have not abandoned Him; the priests ministering to the Lord are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites serve at their tasks.

They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and every evening,^(l) and they set the rows of the bread of the Presence on the ceremonially clean table.^(m) They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of Yahweh our God, while you have abandoned Him.⁽ⁿ⁾

Look, God and His priests are with us at our head. The trumpets are ready to sound the charge against you. Israelites, don't fight against the Lord God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed."^(o)

Now Jeroboam had sent an ambush^(p) around to advance from behind them. So they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.

Judah turned and discovered that the battle was in front of them and behind them, so they cried out to the Lord .^(q) Then the priests blew the trumpets,

and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. When the men of Judah raised the battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.^(r)

So the Israelites fled before Judah, and God handed them over to them.^(s)

Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 choice men of Israel were killed.

The Israelites were subdued at that time. The Judahites succeeded because they depended on the Lord , the God of their ancestors.

Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron^[d] and its villages.

Jeroboam no longer retained his power^[e] during Abijah's reign; ultimately, the Lord struck him^(t) and he died.^(u)

However, Abijah grew strong, acquired 14 wives, and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters.

The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, along with his ways and his sayings, are written in the Writing^(v) of the Prophet Iddo.^(w)

^1[a]Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.^(a) During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years.

^[b]Asa did what was good and right^(b) in the sight of the Lord his God.

He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.^(c)

He told the people of Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.

He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah,^(d) and the kingdom experienced peace under him.

Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah.^(e) No one made war with him in those days because the Lord gave him rest.^(f)

So he said to the people of Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars.^(g) The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded.

Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears,^(h) and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors.

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300^[c] chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.

So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.⁽ⁱ⁾

Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God:^(j) " Lord , there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You,^(k) and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You."

So the Lord routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah,^(l) and the Cushites fled.

Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar.^(m) The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.

Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the Lord was on them.⁽ⁿ⁾ They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them.

They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.