Abijah of Judah Defeats Jeroboam and Captures Bethel Jeshanah and Ephron

2 Chronicles 13 narrates the dramatic battle in which King Abijah of Judah led 400,000 men against Jeroboam's 800,000-strong army at Mount Zemaraim. After Abijah's ringing speech reminding Israel of the divine covenant with the house of David and the legitimacy of the Jerusalem priesthood, the battle was joined and Jeroboam was utterly routed: "Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof. Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah" (2 Chr 13:19-20). Abijah died after just three years.

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