2 Chronicles 13

1 Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam (Yarovam) began Aviyah to reign over Judah (Yehudah).

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). His mother’s name was Michaiah (Mikhayahu) the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Aviyah and Jeroboam (Yarovam).

3 And Aviyah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men; Jeroboam (Yarovam) also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.

4 And Aviyah stood up upon Mount Zemaraim, which is in Mount Efrayim, and said, “Hear me, you Jeroboam (Yarovam) and all Yisrael:

5 Ought you not to know that יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) gave the kingdom over Yisrael to Dawid forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

6 Yet Jeroboam (Yarovam) the son of Nevat, the servant of Solomon (Shelomoh) the son of Dawid, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord (adon).

7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the scoundrel (beliyaal) children, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam (Rechavam) the son of Solomon (Shelomoh), when Rehoboam (Rechavam) was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of יהוה in the hand of the sons of Dawid; and you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam (Yarovam) made for you as gods (elohim).

9 Have you not cast out the priests (kohanim) of יהוה, the sons of Aaron (Aharon), and the Levites (Lewiyim), and have made you priests (kohanim) after the manner of the nations of other lands? So that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest (kohen) of them that are no God (Elohim).

10 But as for us, יהוה is our God (Elohim), and we have not forsaken Him; and the priests (kohanim), who minister unto יהוה, are the sons of Aaron (Aharon), and the Levites (Lewiyim) wait upon their work.

11 And they burn unto יהוה every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick (menorah) of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening; for we keep the charge of יהוה our God (Elohim), but you have forsaken Him.

12 And, behold, God (Elohim) Himself is with us for our captain, and His priests (kohanim) with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Yisrael, fight you not against יהוה God (Elohim) of your fathers; for you shall not prosper!”

13 But Jeroboam (Yarovam) caused an ambushment to come about behind them; so they were before Judah (Yehudah), and the ambushment was behind them.

14 And when Judah (Yehudah) looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind; and they cried unto יהוה, and the priests (kohanim) sounded with the trumpets.

15 Then the men of Judah (Yehudah) gave a shout; and as the men of Judah (Yehudah) shouted, it came to pass, that God (Elohim) smote Jeroboam (Yarovam) and all Yisrael before Aviyah and Judah (Yehudah).

16 And the children of Yisrael fled before Judah (Yehudah), and God (Elohim) delivered them into their hand.

17 And Aviyah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; so there fell down slain of Yisrael five hundred thousand chosen men.

18 Thus the children of Yisrael were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah (Yehudah) prevailed, because they relied upon יהוה God (Elohim) of their fathers.

19 And Aviyah pursued after Jeroboam (Yarovam), and took cities from him, Bethel (Beit-El) with the towns thereof, and Yeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

20 Neither did Jeroboam (Yarovam) recover strength again in the days of Aviyah; and יהוה struck him, and he died.

21 But Aviyah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.

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