The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 258

13:2. Three years he reigned in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Michaia, the daughter of Uriel of Gabaa: and there was war between Abia and Jeroboam.

Michaia... Alias Maacha. Her father had also two names, viz., Absalom, or Abessalom, and Uriel.

13:3. And when Abia had begun battle, and had with him four hundred thousand most valiant and chosen men, Jeroboam put his army in array against him, eight hundred thousand men, who were also chosen and most valiant for war.

13:4. And Abia stood upon mount Semeron, which was in Ephraim, and said: Hear me, O Jeroboam, and all Israel:

13:5. Do you not know that the Lord G.o.d of Israel gave to David the kingdom over Israel for ever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

A covenant of salt... That is, a firm and perpetual covenant. See Num.

18.19.

13:6. And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up: and rebelled against his lord.

13:7. And there were gathered to him vain men, and children of Belial: and they prevailed against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was unexperienced, and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them.

13:8. And now you say that you are able to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which he possesseth by the sons of David, and you have a great mult.i.tude of people, and golden calves, which Jeroboam hath made you for G.o.ds.

13:9. And you have cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites: and you have made you priests, like all the nations of the earth: whosoever cometh and consecrateth his hand with a bullock of the herd, and with seven rams, is made a priest of those who are no G.o.ds.

13:10. But the Lord is our G.o.d, whom we forsake not, and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites are in their order.

13:11. And they offer holocausts to the Lord, every day, morning and evening, and incense made according to the ordinance of the law, and the loaves are set forth on a most clean table, and there is with us the golden candlestick, and the lamps thereof, to be lighted always in the evening: for we keep the precepts of the Lord our G.o.d, whom you have forsaken.

13:12. Therefore G.o.d is the leader in our army, and his priests who sound with trumpets, and resound against you: O children of Israel, fight not against the Lord the G.o.d of your fathers, for it is not good for you.

13:13. While he spoke these things, Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind him. And while he stood facing the enemies, he encompa.s.sed Juda, who perceived it not, with his army.

13:14. And when Juda looked back, they saw the battle coming upon them both before and behind, and they cried to the Lord: and the priests began to sound with the trumpets.

13:15. And all the men of Juda shouted: and behold when they shouted, G.o.d terrified Jeroboam, and all Israel that stood against Abia and Juda.

13:16. And the children of Israel fled before Juda, and the Lord delivered them into their hand.

13:17. And Abia and his people slew them with a great slaughter, and there fell wounded of Israel five hundred thousand valiant men.

13:18. And the children of Israel were brought down, at that time, and the children of Juda were exceedingly strengthened, because they had trusted in the Lord the G.o.d of their fathers.

13:19. And Abia pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel and her daughters, and Jesana with her daughters, Ephron also and her daughters.

13:20. And Jeroboam was not able to resist any more, in the days of Abia: and the Lord struck him, and he died.

13:21. But Abia, being strengthened in his kingdom, took fourteen wives: and begot two and twenty sons, and sixteen daughters.

13:22. And the rest of the acts of Abia, and of his ways and works, are written diligently in the book of Addo the prophet.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 14

The reign of Asa: his victory over the Ethiopians.

14:1. And Abia slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: an Asa his son reigned in his stead: in his days the land was quiet ten years.

14:2. And Asa did that which was good and pleasing in the sight of his G.o.d, and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high places.

14:3. And broke the statues, and cut down the groves.

14:4. And he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the G.o.d of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments.

14:5. And he took away out of all the cities of Juda the altars, and temples, and reigned in peace.

14:6. He built also strong cities in Juda, for he was quiet, and there had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace.

14:7. And he said to Juda: Let us build these cities, and compa.s.s them with walls, and fortify them with towers, and gates, and bars, while all is quiet from wars, because we have sought the Lord the G.o.d of our fathers, and he hath given us peace round about. So they built, and there was no hinderance in building.

14:8. And Asa had in his army of men that bore shields and spears of Juda three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand, all these were most valiant men.

14:9. And Zara the Ethiopian came out against them with his army of ten hundred thousand men, and with three hundred chariots: and he came as far as Maresa.

14:10. And Asa went out to meet him, and set his army in array for battle in the vale of Sephata, which is near Maresa:

14:11. And he called upon the Lord G.o.d, and said: Lord, there is no difference with thee, whether thou help with few, or with many: help us, O Lord our G.o.d: for with confidence in thee, and in thy name we are come against this mult.i.tude. O Lord thou art our G.o.d, let not man prevail against thee.

14:12. And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Juda: and the Ethiopians fled.

14:13. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerara: and the Ethiopians fell even to utter destruction, for the Lord slew them, and his army fought against them, and they were destroyed. And they took abundance of spoils,

14:14. And they took all the cities round about Gerara: for a great fear was come upon all men: and they pillaged the cities, and carried off much booty.

14:15. And they destroyed the sheepcotes, and took an infinite number of cattle, and of camels: and returned to Jerusalem.

2 Paralipomenon Chapter 15

The prophecy of Azarias. Asa's covenant with G.o.d. He deposeth his mother.

15:1. And the spirit of G.o.d came upon Azarias the son of Oded,

15:2. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: Hear ye me, Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, because you have been with him. If you seek him, you shall find: but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

15:3. And many days shall pa.s.s in Israel, without the true G.o.d, and without a priest a teacher, and without the law.

15:4. And when in their distress they shall return to the Lord the G.o.d of Israel, and shall seek him, they shall find him.

15:5. At that time there shall be no peace to him that goeth out and cometh in, but terrors on every side among all the inhabitants of the earth.

15:6. For nation shall fight against nation, and city against city, for the Lord will trouble them with all distress.

15:7. Do you therefore take courage, and let not your hands be weakened: for there shall be a reward for your work.