2nd Dabar-Hayamym (2 Chronicles) — 13

Abiyahu Reigns in Yahudah

1 In the eighteenth year of King Yarubuam, Abiyahu became king over Yahudah. 

2 He reigned three years in Yahushalam, his mother’s name was Michayahu the daughter of Urial of Gibaah. And there was war between Abiyahu and Yarubuam. 

3 Abiyahu set the battle in order with an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand choice men. Yarubuam also drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty men of valor.

4 Then Abiyahu stood on Mount Zamaraim, which is in the mountains of Aphraim, and said, “Hear me, Yarubuam and all Yashar'AL: 

5 Should you not know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL gave the dominion over Yashar'AL to Daud forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? 

6 Yet Yarubuam the son of Nabat, the servant of Shalumah the son of Daud, rose up and rebelled against his master. 

7 Then worthless rogues gathered to him, and strengthened themselves against Rahubuam the son of Shalumah, when Rahubuam was young and inexperienced and could not withstand them. 

8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, which is in the hand of the sons of Daud; and you are a great multitude, and with you are the gold calves which Yarubuam made for you to worship. 

9 Have you not cast out the Kuhanym of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the sons of Aarun, and the Lauym, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest to your worthless idols? 

10 But as for us, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is our  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, and we have not forsaken 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH; and the Kuhanym who minister to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH are the sons of Aarun, and the Lauym attend to their duties. 

11 And they burn to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense; they also set the showbread in order on the pure gold table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps to burn every evening; for we keep the commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, but you have forsaken Him. 

12 Now look, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Himself is with us as our head, and His Kuhanym with sounding trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O children of Yashar'AL, do not fight against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!”

13 But Yarubuam caused an ambush to go around behind them; so they were in front of Yahudah, and the ambush was behind them. 

14 And when Yahudah looked around, to their surprise the battle line was at both front and rear; and they cried out to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and the Kuhanym sounded the trumpets. 

15 Then the men of Yahudah gave a shout; and as the men of Yahudah shouted, it happened that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH struck Yarubuam and all Yashar'AL before Abiyahu and Yahudah. 

16 And the children of Yashar'AL fled before Yahudah, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH delivered them into their hand. 

17 Then Abiyahu and his people struck them with a great slaughter; so five hundred thousand choice men of Yashar'AL fell slain. 

18 Thus the children of Yashar'AL were subdued at that time; and the children of Yahudah prevailed, because they relied on 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of their fathers.

19 And Abiyahu pursued Yaruboam and took cities from him: Bathal with its villages, Yashanah with its villages, and Aphrain with its villages. 

20 So Yarubuam did not recover strength again in the days of Abiyahu; and  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH struck Yarubuam, and he died.

21 But Abiyah grew mighty, married fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 

22 Now the rest of the acts of Abiyahu, his ways, and his sayings are written in the annals of the Nabym Iddu.