Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
2 Chronicles 13
New International Version

### Abijah King of Judah(A)

13 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah, 2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah,[a](B) a daughter[b] of Uriel of Gibeah.

There was war between Abijah(C) and Jeroboam.(D) 3 Abijah went into battle with an army of four hundred thousand able fighting men, and Jeroboam drew up a battle line against him with eight hundred thousand able troops.

4 Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim,(E) in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel,(F) listen to me! 5 Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever(G) by a covenant of salt?(H) 6 Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled(I) against his master. 7 Some worthless scoundrels(J) gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive(K) and not strong enough to resist them.

8 “And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hands of David’s descendants.(L) You are indeed a vast army and have with you(M) the golden calves(N) that Jeroboam made to be your gods. 9 But didn’t you drive out the priests(O) of the Lord,(P) the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull(Q) and seven rams(R) may become a priest of what are not gods.(S)

10 “As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. 11 Every morning and evening(T) they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense(U) to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table(V) and light the lamps(W) on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him. 12 God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you.(X) People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord,(Y) the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”(Z)

13 Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush(AA) was behind them. 14 Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out(AB) to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets 15 and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel(AC) before Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered(AD) them into their hands. 17 Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel’s able men. 18 The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied(AE) on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

19 Abijah pursued Jeroboam and took from him the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. 20 Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. And the Lord struck him down and he died.

21 But Abijah grew in strength. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.

22 The other events of Abijah’s reign, what he did and what he said, are written in the annotations of the prophet Iddo.

#### Footnotes

1. 2 Chronicles 13:2 Most Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 11:20 and 1 Kings 15:2); Hebrew Micaiah
2. 2 Chronicles 13:2 Or granddaughter

#### Cross references

1. 2 Chronicles 13:1 : 13:1-2, 22–14:1pp — 1Ki 15:1-2, 6-8
2. 2 Chronicles 13:2 : 2Ch 15:16
3. 2 Chronicles 13:2 : S 2Ch 11:20
4. 2 Chronicles 13:2 : 1Ki 15:6
5. 2 Chronicles 13:4 : Jos 18:22
6. 2 Chronicles 13:4 : 1Ch 11:1
7. 2 Chronicles 13:5 : S 2Sa 7:13; S 1Ch 17:12
8. 2 Chronicles 13:5 : S Lev 2:13
9. 2 Chronicles 13:6 : 1Ki 11:26
10. 2 Chronicles 13:7 : S Jdg 9:4
11. 2 Chronicles 13:7 : S 1Ch 29:1
12. 2 Chronicles 13:8 : S 2Ch 9:8
13. 2 Chronicles 13:8 : 1Sa 4:3
14. 2 Chronicles 13:8 : S Ex 32:4; S 2Ch 11:15
15. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : S 1Ki 12:31
16. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : 2Ch 11:14-15
17. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : Ex 29:35-36
18. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : S Ex 29:31
19. 2 Chronicles 13:9 : Jer 2:11; Gal 4:8
20. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S Ex 29:39; S 2Ch 2:4
21. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S Ex 25:6
22. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S 1Ch 9:32
23. 2 Chronicles 13:11 : S Ex 25:37
24. 2 Chronicles 13:12 : S Nu 10:8-9
25. 2 Chronicles 13:12 : S Jdg 2:15; Ac 5:39
26. 2 Chronicles 13:12 : Job 9:4; Pr 21:30; 29:1
27. 2 Chronicles 13:13 : Jos 8:9; 2Ch 20:22
28. 2 Chronicles 13:14 : S 1Ch 5:20; 2Ch 14:11; 18:31
29. 2 Chronicles 13:15 : S 1Ch 9:1
30. 2 Chronicles 13:16 : 2Ch 16:8
31. 2 Chronicles 13:18 : 2Ch 14:11; 16:7; Ps 22:5

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow God’s Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV Application Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Bringing the Ancient Message of the Bible into Your World
Retail: $54.99
Our Price: $35.00
Save: $19.99 (36%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Explore the virtues of faith, hope, and love
Retail: $69.98
Our Price: $48.99
Save: $20.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $7.50
Save: $12.48 (62%)
Buy Now
View more titles