1Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam (of Israel), Abijah began to reign in Judah. 2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3And Abijah fielded an army of four hundred thousand chosen and valiant men from Judah; while Jeroboam was arrayed against him with eight hundred thousand chosen mighty men of Israel. 4And Abijah stood upon Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and shouted, “Hear me, Jeroboam, and all Israel. 5Do you not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom of Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt (symbolic of fidelity)? 6Yet Jeroboam, son of Nebat, a mere servant of Solomon, has rebelled against the king. 7And some scoundrels have joined him and rebelled against Rehoboam, son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and inexperienced, and could not stand up to them. 8And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; because you have a huge army, and golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods. 9Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have appointed your own priests like the pagans of other lands? So that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, can become a priest of idols, that are not gods. 10But as for us, the LORD is our (Judah’s) God, and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests, who minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites perform their duties. 11Every morning and evening they offer unto the LORD burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order upon the pure table; and light the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but you have forsaken Him. 12And God, Himself, is our leader, and His priests are here with trumpets to sound the battle cry against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers; for you shall not succeed.”

13But Jeroboam (of Israel) set an ambush (sent some troops around to the rear) to come from behind Judah, so that Israel’s main force was in front of Judah, and Israel’s ambush contingent was behind them. 14And when Judah realized that the battle was both in front and behind; they cried to the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets. 15Then the men of Judah gave a battle cry; and as they shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16And the men of Israel fled from before Judah; and God delivered Israel into their (Judah’s) hand. 17And Abijah and his men inflicted heavy losses upon the army of Israel: five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel were slaughtered. 18Thus, the descendants of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers; and the army of Israel was defeated at that time. 19And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took the cities of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephrain, with their villages. 20Nor did Jeroboam regain power during the reign of Abijah. And then the LORD struck Jeroboam, so that he died. 21But Abijah grew in strength, married fourteen wives, and had twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.

22And the rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.