And Abijah set the battle in arraywith an army of valiant men of war, evenfourhundredthousandchosen men: Jeroboamalso set the battle in arrayagainst him witheighthundredthousandchosen men, beingmighty men of valour.
And there are gatheredunto him vain men, the children of Belial, and havestrengthenedthemselvesagainstRehoboam the son of Solomon, whenRehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstandthem.
And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a greatmultitude, and there are with you goldencalves, whichJeroboammade you for gods.
Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and havemade you priestsafter the manner of the nations of otherlands? so thatwhosoevercometh to consecratehimselfwith a youngbullock and sevenrams, the same may be a priest of themthat are no gods.
But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, whichministerunto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Leviteswaitupontheirbusiness:
And theyburnunto the LORDeverymorning and everyeveningburntsacrifices and sweetincense: the shewbreadalso set they in orderupon the puretable; and the candlestick of goldwith the lampsthereof, to burneveryevening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye haveforsaken him.
And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priestswithsoundingtrumpets to cry alarmagainst you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of yourfathers; for ye shall not prosper.
And AbijahpursuedafterJeroboam, and tookcitiesfrom him, Bethelwith the townsthereof, and Jeshanahwith the townsthereof, and Ephrainwith the townsthereof.