11 Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lampstand. We do what the Lord has commanded, but you have abandoned him.
12 God himself is our leader and his priests are here with trumpets, ready to blow them and call us to battle against you. People of Israel, don't fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors! You can't win!”
13 Meanwhile Jeroboam had sent some of his troops to ambush the Judean army from the rear, while the rest faced them from the front.
14 The Judeans looked around and saw that they were surrounded. They cried to the Lord for help, and the priests blew the trumpets.
15 The Judeans gave a loud shout, and led by Abijah, they attacked; God defeated Jeroboam and the Israelite army.
16 The Israelites fled from the Judeans, and God let the Judeans overpower them.
17 Abijah and his army dealt the Israelites a crushing defeat—half a million of Israel's best soldiers were killed.