1 Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel.
2 He reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah.Then war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 Judah, led by King Abijah, fielded 400,000 select warriors, while Jeroboam mustered 800,000 select troops from Israel.
4 When the army of Judah arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and shouted to Jeroboam and all Israel: “Listen to me!
5 Don’t you realize that the lord, the God of Israel, made a lasting covenant with David, giving him and his descendants the throne of Israel forever?