Chronicles On Observing The Charge Of Hashem Versus Forsaking Him

If you are still not convinced that forsaking G-d’s commandments yields blessings, here’s another chapter to prove the Greek book — New Testament wrong.

“King Abijah”

“Jeroboam’s Disloyalty”

… There was a war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
13:2
Abijah stood up …, “Hear me, Jeroboam and all of Israel!
:4
Surely, you should know that Hashem, God of Israel, gave kingship over Israel to David forever, to him and his children for an everlasting covenant.
:5
But Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, got up and rebelled against his master.
:6
Have you not dismissed the Kohanim of Hashem, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the nations of the land? … to the non-god!
:9
But as for us — Hashem is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; the priests who minister to Hashem are the sons of Aaron and the Levites do their work.
:10
… for we observe the charge of Hashem, our God, while you have forsaken Him.
:11
… Children of Israel, do not wage war against Hashem, the God of your forefathers, for you will not succeed!”
:12
… God struck Jeroboam and all of Israel before Abijah and Judah.
:15
The Children of Israel became humbled at that time, and the people of Judah gained strength, for they relied on Hashem, the God of their fathers.
:18
Jeroboam did not again muster strength in the days of Abijah; Hashem struck him and he died.
:20
Abijah lay with his forefathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was tranquil for ten years.
:23

1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
2 Three years he reigned in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah, and there was a war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijah conducted the war with an army of mighty warriors, four hundred thousand chosen men, and Jeroboam waged war with him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty warriors.
4 And Abijah arose at the top of Mount Zemaraim, which is on Mount Ephraim, and he said, “Hearken to me, Jeroboam and all Israel.
5 Should you not know that the Lord, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom to David over Israel forever, to him and to his sons, [with] a covenant of salt?
6 But Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, arose and rebelled against his master.
7 And there gathered to him worthless and unbridled men, and they overwhelmed Rehoboam the son of Solomon, and Rehoboam was young and soft-hearted, and he did not strengthen himself before them.
8 And now, you are saying to strengthen yourselves before the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David, and you are a great multitude, and with you are golden calves that Jeroboam made for you for gods.
9 Did you not banish the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make for yourselves priests like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to initiate himself with a young bull and seven rams, will be a priest to a non-god.
10 But, as for us-the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him, and the priests who minister to the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites engage in the work.
11 And they burn to the Lord burnt offerings every morning and every evening, and incense and [set up] the showbread on the pure table, and the golden candelabrum and its lamps to kindle every evening, for we keep the watch of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken Him.
12 And behold, with us at the head are God and His priests and the sounding trumpets to sound over you. O Children of Israel, do not wage war with the Lord, the God of your forefathers, for you will not succeed.”
13 And Jeroboam turned the ambush to come from behind them, and they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
14 And Judah turned around, and behold the battle was before them and behind them, and they cried out to the Lord, and the priests were sounding the trumpets.
15 And the men of Judah shouted, and it came to pass, when the men of Judah shouted, God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 And the Children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands.
17 And Abijah and his people smote them a great blow, and five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell slain.
18 And the Children of Israel were humbled at that time, and the Children of Judah became strong because they relied on the Lord, the God of their forefathers.
19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and he captured cities from him; Beth-El and its villages and Jeshanah and its villages and Ephrain and its villages.
20 And Jeroboam could muster no more strength in the days of Abijah, and the Lord smote him, and he died.
21 And Abijah strengthened himself, and he took himself fourteen wives, and he begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22 And the rest of the deeds of Abijah and his ways and his deeds are written in the midrash of the prophet Iddo.
23 And Abijah slept with his forefathers, and they buried him in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his stead; in his time, the land was tranquil for ten years.