A reading from the book of Second Chronicles.

In the 18th year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.

He reigned for three years in Jerusalem.

His mother's name was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibia.

Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Abijah went out to battle, having an army of

valiant men of war, 400,000 chosen men. And Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with

800,000 chosen mighty warriors. Then Abijah stood up on Mount Zemoreum that is in the hill

country of Ephraim and said, Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel. O Yeroboam, and all Israel,

ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David

and his sons by a covenant of salt?

Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and

rebelled against his lord, and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied

Rehoboam the son of Solomon when Rehoboam was young and irresolute, and could not withstand

them. And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David,

because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you

for gods. Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord,

the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands?

Whoever comes for ordination, with a young bull or seven rams, becomes a priest of what are not

gods. But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken

Him. We have priests ministering to the Lord who are sons of Aaron and Levites for their

service. They offer to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt offerings and incense

of sweet spices. Set out to

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