1 In year 18 of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah. ️ 2 Abijah was king for 3 years in Jerusalem. His mom was Maacah. Her dad was Uriel. They were from Gibeah. There was war with Jeroboam. ️⚔️ 3 Abijah had a big army. Jeroboam had an even bigger army. Two big groups got ready to fight. ️⚔️ 4 Abijah stood on a hill named Zemaraim in Ephraim and spoke to Israel and to Jeroboam. ️⛰️ 5 Abijah said, “God gave the rule to David and to his sons for all time. God made a strong promise.” ✋ 6 Jeroboam, who worked for Solomon, stood up against the king. He fought the family of David. ⚠️⚔️ 7 Bad men went with Jeroboam. Rehoboam was young and weak. He could not stop them. 8 Abijah said, “You think you can fight the sons of David because you are many. You made gold calves. You call them gods.” ✨ 9 “You sent away God’s priests, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites. You made your own priests for fake gods.” ⛪ 10 “But we follow God. He is our God. His priests help us.” ⛪ 11 “We give gifts to God each morning and each night. We burn sweet smoke. We set the bread. We light the lamps. We obey God. But you left God.” ️ 12 “Look! God is with us. The priests blow horns. Do not fight God. You will not win.” 13 But Jeroboam made a trap. The army came in front and behind Judah. 14 Judah looked back and saw the trap. They cried to God, and the priests blew the horns. 15 The men of Judah shouted. God helped them beat Jeroboam’s army. ✊ 16 Israel ran away. God gave Israel into Judah’s hand. ♂️➡️ 17 Abijah and Judah won big. Many, many Israel men died. ⚔️ 18 Israel became weak. Judah won because they trusted God. 19 Abijah took towns from Jeroboam: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, with the little towns by them. ️ 20 Jeroboam did not get strong again in the days of Abijah. God made him die. ✝️ 21 Abijah became very strong. He had many wives. He had 22 sons and 16 daughters. 22 The other things Abijah did are in a book by a man of God named Iddo.