1 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

2tn The parallel text in 1 Kgs 15:1 identifies his mother as "Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom" [=Absalom, 2 Chr 11:20). Although most English versions identify the mother's father as Uriel of Gibeah, a number of English versions substitute the name "Maacah" here for the mother (e.g., NIV, NCV, CEV, NLT).

3tn Heb "and Abijah bound [i.e., began] the battle with a force of warriors, four hundred thousand chosen men."

4tn Heb "and Jeroboam arranged with him [for] battle with eight hundred thousand chosen men, strong warrior[s]."

5tn Heb "Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel has given kingship to David over Israel permanently, to him and to his sons [by] a covenant of salt?"

sn For other references to a "covenant of salt," see Lev 2:13 and Num 18:19.

6tn Heb "empty men, sons of wickedness."

7tn Heb "strengthened themselves."

8tn Heb "a young man and tender of heart."

9tn Heb "the kingdom of the Lord by the hand of the sons of David."

10tn Or "horde"; or "multitude."

11tn In the Hebrew text this is phrased as a rhetorical question, "Did you not banish?" The rhetorical question expects the answer, "Of course you did," the force of which is reflected in the translation "But you banished."

12tn Heb "whoever comes to fill his hand with a bull of a son of cattle, and seven rams, and he is a priest to no-gods."

13tn Heb "and priests serving the Lord [are] the sons of Aaron and the Levites in the work."

14tn Or "for."

15tn Heb "and his priests and the trumpets of the war alarm [are ready] to sound out against you."

16tn Heb "fathers" (also in v. 18).

17tn Heb "and Jeroboam had caused to circle around an ambush to come from behind them."

18tn Heb "Judah."

19tn Heb "and Judah turned, and, look, to them [was] the battle in front and behind."

20tn Heb "shouted out."

21tn Heb "Judah."

22tn Heb "them"; the referent (the men of Judah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

23tn Heb "struck them down with a great striking down."

24tn Heb "and [the] slain from Israel fell, five hundred thousand chosen men."

25tn Heb "at that time."

26map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.

27tn Heb "and the strength of Jeroboam was not retained again in the days of Abijah."

28tn Heb "lifted up for himself."

29tn Heb "and his ways and his words."