2 Chronicles

Covers Solomon's reign and the kingdom of Judah's history, emphasizing faithfulness to God.

Chapter 13

1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.

*In the 18th year of King Jeroboam, Abijah started ruling over Judah.

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

*He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mom's name was Michaiah, daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. There was a war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.

*And Abijah organized his soldiers, who were strong fighters, into a battle formation with 400,000 of them. At the same time, Jeroboam organized his soldiers, who were also very brave, into a battle formation with 800,000 of them.

4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

*Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in Mount Ephraim and spoke to Jeroboam and everyone in Israel, saying, "Listen to me."

5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

*Shouldn't you realize that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David forever, both to him and his sons, through a covenant of salt?

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.

*However, Jeroboam, son of Nebat and helper of Solomon, son of David, has become a leader and refused to follow his boss.

7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

*People who didn't matter came to him and stood up against Rehoboam, Solomon's son, while he was still young and easy to sway, and they were too strong for him to fight back.

8 And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.

*Now you want to oppose God's kingdom through David's descendants. You are many people, but you have golden calves that Jeroboam made for you to worship as gods.

9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

*Did you not remove the LORD's priests, the descendants of Aaron and Levites, and replace them with priests like other countries? Now anyone who dedicates themselves using a young bull and seven rams can become a priest for gods that aren't real.

10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:

*But for us, the LORD is our God, and we haven't left him. The priests who serve the LORD are from Aaron's family, and the Levites help with their tasks.

11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

*They offer morning and evening sacrifices and sweet incense to the Lord. They also arrange the showbread on a clean table and light the golden candlestick each evening. They are following God's commands, but you have turned away from Him.

12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

*Look, God is with us as our leader, and his priests have loud trumpets to warn you. Children of Israel, don't fight against the LORD God of your ancestors; you won't succeed.

13 But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.

*But Jeroboam set a trap behind them, facing Judah in front and having the trap behind them.

14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

*When Judah turned around, he saw that the fight was happening both in front of and behind them. So, they called out to God, and the priests blew their trumpets.

15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

*Then the people from Judah cheered loudly. As they cheered, God fought against Jeroboam and all of Israel in favor of Abijah and Judah.

16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.

*The Israelite kids ran away from Judah, and God let them be captured by Judah's people.

17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

*And Abijah along with his group defeated them, killing many: 500,000 skilled fighters from Israel were killed.

18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.

*At that time, the Israelites were defeated, while the Judahites won because they trusted in their ancestor's God for help.

19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

*Abijah chased Jeroboam and captured cities from him, including Bethel and its towns, Jeshanah and its towns, and Ephrain and its towns.

20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

*Jeroboam didn't regain his strength during Abijah's time; the Lord struck him, and he died.

21 But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

*But Abijah became strong, had fourteen wives, and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.

*The remaining events of Abijah, his actions, and what he said are recorded in the book about the prophet Iddo.

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