1. In the eighteenth year of Sovereign Yaroḇ‛am, Aḇiyah began to reign over Yehuḏah.
2. He reigned three years in Yerushalayim. And his mother’s name was Miḵayahu the daughter of Uri’ĕl of Giḇ‛ah. And there was fighting between Aḇiyah and Yaroḇ‛am.
3. And Aḇiyah joined battle with an army of mighty men of battle, four hundred thousand choice men. And Yaroḇ‛am drew up in battle formation against him with eight hundred thousand choice men, mighty brave men.
4. And Aḇiyah stood on Mount Tsemarayim, which is in the mountains of Ephrayim, and said, “Hear me, Yaroḇ‛am and all Yisra’ĕl:
5. “Do you not know that יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has given the reign over Yisra’ĕl to Dawiḏ forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?
6. “Yet Yaroḇ‛am son of Neḇat, the servant of Shelomoh son of Dawiḏ, rose up and rebelled against his master.
7. “And vain men gathered to him, sons of Beliya‛al, and strengthened themselves against Reḥaḇ‛am son of Shelomoh, when Reḥaḇ‛am was young and tender of heart and could not stand against them.