2 Chronicles 13

All 22 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Abijah became king of Judah in the 18th year of King Jeroboam's reign.
2. 2He ruled in Jerusalem for 3 years. His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. War broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3. 3Abijah assembled his army for battle with 400,000 chosen men, all valiant warriors. Jeroboam also arranged his forces against him with 800,000 chosen men, who were mighty men of valor.
4. 4Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and called out, "Listen to me, Jeroboam, and all of Israel!
5. 5Don't you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom of Israel to David and his descendants forever through a covenant of salt?
6. 6Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.
7. 7Then a crowd of worthless men, the children of Belial, rallied around him and overpowered Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted at the time and couldn't stand against them.
8. 8Now you think you can oppose the kingdom of the LORD in the hands of David's descendants. You have a large army, and you have the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.
9. 9Haven't you driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the nations of other lands? Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of those who are not gods.
10. 10But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we haven't abandoned him. Our priests who serve the LORD are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites carry out their duties faithfully.
11. 11Every morning and every evening they offer burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They arrange the shewbread on the pure table and light the gold lampstand with its lamps every evening. We follow the instructions of the LORD our God, but you have abandoned him.
12. 12Look — God himself is with us as our leader, and his priests stand ready with their trumpets to sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.
13. 13But Jeroboam had sent troops to circle around behind them, so Judah was caught with Jeroboam's main force in front and an ambush behind.
14. 14When Judah looked around, they realized they were surrounded — enemies in front and behind. They cried out to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets.
15. 15Then the men of Judah raised a battle shout. The moment they shouted, God struck down Jeroboam and all of Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16. 16The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands.
17. 17Abijah and his men inflicted a devastating blow — 500,000 of Israel's elite soldiers fell dead that day.
18. 18Israel was humbled that day, and Judah won the victory because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors.
19. 19Abijah chased after Jeroboam and captured several cities from him: Bethel and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephrain and its surrounding towns.
20. 20Jeroboam never regained his strength during Abijah's lifetime, and the LORD struck him, and he died.
21. 21Meanwhile, Abijah grew powerful. He married 14 wives and fathered 22 sons and 16 daughters.
22. 22The rest of Abijah's acts, his ways, and his sayings are recorded in the story of the prophet Iddo.