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?