Abijah Reigns in Judah
(1 Kings 15:1–8)

1  בִּשְׁנַ֛ת (In the year) שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה (eight) עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה (and tenth) לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) יָרָבְעָ֑ם (Jeroboam), וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ (and became king) אֲבִיָּ֖ה (Abijah) עַל־ (over) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (Judah). 2  שָׁל֣וֹשׁ (Three) שָׁנִ֗ים (years) מָלַךְ֙ (he reigned) בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (in Jerusalem), וְשֵׁ֣ם (and the name) אִמּ֔וֹ (of his mother) מִיכָיָ֥הוּ (was Micaiah) בַת־ (daughter) אוּרִיאֵ֖ל (of Uriel) מִן־ (of) גִּבְעָ֑ה (Gibeah).

וּמִלְחָמָ֥ה (And war) הָיְתָ֛ה (there was) בֵּ֥ין (between) אֲבִיָּ֖ה (Abijah) וּבֵ֥ין (and between) יָרָבְעָֽם׃ (Jeroboam). 3  וַיֶּאְסֹ֨ר (And directed) אֲבִיָּ֜ה (Abijah) אֶת־ (-) הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (the battle) בְּחַ֙יִל֙ (with an army) גִּבּוֹרֵ֣י (of mighty men) מִלְחָמָ֔ה (of war), אַרְבַּע־ (four) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִ֣ישׁ (men) בָּח֑וּרס (choice), וְיָרָבְעָ֗ם (and Jeroboam) עָרַ֤ךְ (drew up) עִמּוֹ֙ (against him) מִלְחָמָ֔ה (in battle) בִּשְׁמוֹנֶ֨ה (with eight) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֥ישׁ (men) בָּח֖וּר (choice) גִּבּ֥וֹר (mighty men) חָֽיִל׃ס (of valor).

Civil War against Jeroboam

4  וַיָּ֣קָם (And stood) אֲבִיָּ֗ה (Abijah) מֵעַל֙ (on) לְהַ֣ר (Mount) צְמָרַ֔יִם (Zemaraim), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which is) בְּהַ֣ר (in the hill country) אֶפְרָ֑יִם (of Ephraim), וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said), שְׁמָע֖וּנִי (Hear me), יָרָבְעָ֥ם (O Jeroboam) וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel); 5  הֲלֹ֤א (is it not) לָכֶם֙ (for you⁺) לָדַ֔עַת (to know) כִּ֞י (that) יְהוָ֣ה׀ (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) נָתַ֨ן (gave) מַמְלָכָ֧ה (the dominion) לְדָוִ֛יד (to David) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) לְעוֹלָ֑ם (forever), ל֥וֹ (to him) וּלְבָנָ֖יו (and his sons) בְּרִ֥ית (by a covenant) מֶֽלַח׃ס (of salt)? 6  וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (And rose up) יָרָבְעָ֣ם (Jeroboam) בֶּן־ (son) נְבָ֔ט (of Nebat), עֶ֖בֶד (the servant) שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה (of Solomon) בֶן־ (son) דָּוִ֑יד (of David), וַיִּמְרֹ֖ד (and he rebelled) עַל־ (against) אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ (his lord). 7  וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (And gathered) עָלָ֗יו (to him) אֲנָשִׁ֤ים (men) רֵקִים֙ (vain), בְּנֵ֣י (sons) בְלִיַּ֔עַל (of worthlessness), וַיִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ (and they strenghtened themselves) עַל־ (against) רְחַבְעָ֣ם (Rehoboam) בֶּן־ (son) שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (of Solomon). וּרְחַבְעָ֗ם (And Rehoboam) הָ֤יָה (was) נַ֙עַר֙ (young) וְרַךְ־ (and tender) לֵבָ֔ב (of heart), וְלֹ֥א (and not) הִתְחַזַּ֖ק (could he strengthen himself) לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (against them).

8  וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (And) אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) אֹֽמְרִ֗ים (are saying) לְהִתְחַזֵּק֙ (to strengthen yourselves) לִפְנֵי֙ (before the face) מַמְלֶ֣כֶת (of the kingdom) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) בְּיַ֖ד (in the hand) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) דָוִ֑יד (of David), וְאַתֶּם֙ (and you⁺ are) הָמ֣וֹן (a multitude) רָ֔ב (great), וְעִמָּכֶם֙ (and with you⁺ are) עֶגְלֵ֣י (the calves) זָהָ֔ב (gold) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) עָשָׂ֥ה (made) לָכֶ֛ם (for you⁺) יָרָבְעָ֖ם (Jeroboam) לֵאלֹהִֽים׃ (for gods). 9  הֲלֹ֤א (Have not) הִדַּחְתֶּם֙ (you⁺ cast out) אֶת־ (-) כֹּהֲנֵ֣י (the priests) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) אַהֲרֹ֖ן (of Aaron), וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם (and the Levites), וַתַּעֲשׂ֨וּ (and made) לָכֶ֤ם (for yourselves) כֹּהֲנִים֙ (priests) כְּעַמֵּ֣י (like the peoples) הָאֲרָצ֔וֹת (of the lands)? כָּל־ (Everyone) הַבָּ֗א (comes) לְמַלֵּ֨א (to consecrate) יָד֜וֹ (himself) בְּפַ֤ר (with a bull), בֶּן־ (a son) בָּקָר֙ (of the herd), וְאֵילִ֣ם (and rams) שִׁבְעָ֔ה (seven), וְהָיָ֥ה (and he will be) כֹהֵ֖ן (a priest) לְלֹ֥א (of what are not) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ס (gods).

10  וַאֲנַ֛חְנוּ (And as for us), יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH is) אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ (our God), וְלֹ֣א (and not) עֲזַבְנֻ֑הוּ (we have forsaken Him) וְכֹ֨הֲנִ֜ים (and the priests) מְשָׁרְתִ֤ים (who minister) לַֽיהוָה֙ (to YHWH), בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (of Aaron) וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם (and the Levites), בַּמְלָֽאכֶת׃ (in the work). 11  וּמַקְטִרִ֣ים (And they burn) לַיהוָ֡ה (to YHWH) עֹל֣וֹת (burnt offerings) בַּבֹּֽקֶר־ (morning) בַּבֹּ֣קֶר (by morning) וּבָעֶֽרֶב־ (and evening) בָּעֶ֣רֶב (by evening), וּקְטֹֽרֶת־ (and incense) סַמִּים֩ (of spices) וּמַעֲרֶ֨כֶת (and the arrangement) לֶ֜חֶם (of bread) עַל־ (on) הַשֻּׁלְחָ֣ן (the table), הַטָּה֗וֹר (the pure gold) וּמְנוֹרַ֨ת (and the lampstand) הַזָּהָ֤ב (of the gold) וְנֵרֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ (and its lamps) לְבָעֵר֙ (to burn) בָּעֶ֣רֶב (evening) בָּעֶ֔רֶב (by evening). כִּֽי־ (For) שֹׁמְרִ֣ים (are keeping) אֲנַ֔חְנוּ (we) אֶת־ (-) מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת (the charge) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (our God), וְאַתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺) עֲזַבְתֶּ֥ם (have forsaken) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (Him).

12  וְהִנֵּה֩ (And behold), עִמָּ֨נוּ (with us) בָרֹ֜אשׁ (at head) הָאֱלֹהִ֧ים׀ (is God), וְכֹהֲנָ֛יו (and His priests), וַחֲצֹצְר֥וֹת (and trumpets) הַתְּרוּעָ֖ה (sounding) לְהָרִ֣יעַ (to shout) עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם (against you⁺). בְּנֵ֣י (O sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), אַל־ (not) תִּלָּֽחֲמ֛וּ (do fight) עִם־ (against) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽי־ (God) אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (of your⁺ fathers), כִּי־ (for) לֹ֥א (not) תַצְלִֽיחוּ׃ (you⁺ shall prosper).

13  וְיָֽרָבְעָ֗ם (And Jeroboam) הֵסֵב֙ (brought around) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּאְרָ֔ב (the ambush) לָב֖וֹא (to come in) מֵֽאַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם (behind them), וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ (and they were) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וְהַמַּאְרָ֖ב (and the ambush) מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ (behind them). 14  וַיִּפְנ֣וּ (And turned) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah), וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and behold), לָהֶ֤ם (-) הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ (the battle) פָּנִ֣ים (before their faces) וְאָח֔וֹר (and behind), וַֽיִּצְעֲק֖וּ (and they cried out) לַיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH), וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (and the priests) מַחֲצֹצְרִים (sounded) בַּחֲצֹצְרֽוֹת׃ (the trumpets). 15  וַיָּרִ֖יעוּ (And gave a shout) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), וַיְהִ֗י (and it came to pass) בְּהָרִ֙יעַ֙ (as shouted) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וְהָאֱלֹהִ֗ים (that God) נָגַ֤ף (struck) אֶת־ (-) יָֽרָבְעָם֙ (Jeroboam) וְכָל־ (and all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) אֲבִיָּ֖ה (Abijah) וִיהוּדָֽה׃ (and Judah).

16  וַיָּנ֥וּסוּ (And fled) בְנֵי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) מִפְּנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוּדָ֑ה (Judah), וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם (and delivered them) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּיָדָֽם׃ (into their hands). 17  וַיַּכּ֥וּ (And struck) בָהֶ֛ם (them) אֲבִיָּ֥ה (Abijah) וְעַמּ֖וֹ (and his people) מַכָּ֣ה (with a slaughter) רַבָּ֑ה (great), וַיִּפְּל֤וּ (and they fell) חֲלָלִים֙ (slain) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (from Israel) חֲמֵשׁ־ (five) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִ֥ישׁ (men) בָּחֽוּר׃ (choice). 18  וַיִּכָּנְע֥וּ (And were subdued) בְנֵי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֑יא (that), וַיֶּֽאֶמְצוּ֙ (and prevailed) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) כִּ֣י (because) נִשְׁעֲנ֔וּ (they relied) עַל־ (on) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (of their fathers).

19  וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף (And pursued) אֲבִיָּה֮ (Abijah) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) יָרָבְעָם֒ (Jeroboam), וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד (and he took) מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ (from him) עָרִ֔ים (cities): אֶת־ (-) בֵּֽית־ (Beth-) אֵל֙ (el) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנוֹתֶ֔יהָ (its villages), וְאֶת־ (and) יְשָׁנָ֖ה (Jeshanah) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנוֹתֶ֑יהָ (its villages), וְאֶת־ (and) עֶפְרוֹן (Ephron) וּבְנֹתֶֽיהָ׃ (and its villages).

20  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) עָצַ֧ר (did recover) כֹּֽחַ־ (power) יָרָבְעָ֛ם (Jeroboam) ע֖וֹד (again) בִּימֵ֣י (in the days) אֲבִיָּ֑הוּ (of Abijah); וַיִּגְּפֵ֥הוּ (and struck him) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) וַיָּמֹֽת׃פ (and he died).

21  וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק (And strengthened himself) אֲבִיָּ֔הוּ (Abijah), וַיִּ֨שָּׂא־ (and he took) ל֔וֹ (to himseld) נָשִׁ֖ים (wives) אַרְבַּ֣ע (four) עֶשְׂרֵ֑ה (and ten), וַיּ֗וֹלֶד (and he begat) עֶשְׂרִ֤ים (twenty) וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ (and two) בָּנִ֔ים (sons) וְשֵׁ֥שׁ (and six) עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה (and ten) בָּנֽוֹת׃ס (daughters). 22  וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ (And the rest) דִּבְרֵ֣י (of the acts) אֲבִיָּ֔ה (of Abijah), וּדְרָכָ֖יו (and his ways), וּדְבָרָ֑יו (and his words), כְּתוּבִ֕ים (are written) בְּמִדְרַ֖שׁ (in the Treatise) הַנָּבִ֥יא (of the Prophet) עִדּֽוֹ׃ (Iddo).