Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULTAnd war was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
USTThere were wars between the armies of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all during the time that Abijah ruled.
BSBAnd there was war between [the houses of] Rehoboam[fn] and Jeroboam all the days of [Abijam’s] life.[fn]
15:6Literally war between Rehoboam (most Hebrew manuscripts); some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac war between Abijam (that is, Abijah); most LXX texts do not contain this verse.
NETRehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s lifetime.
LSVand there has been war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
FBV(Rehoboam and Jeroboam were always at war with each other.)[fn]
15:6This verse appears to be repeated from 14:30 and does not fit here in the description of Abijam. In the following verse it indicates that Abijam and Jeroboam were also always at war. Perhaps for this reason this verse is omitted from some manuscripts of the Septuagint.
T4TThere were wars between the armies of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all during the time that Abijah ruled.
ClVgAttamen bellum fuit inter Roboam et Jeroboam omni tempore vitæ ejus.[fn] (Atnevertheless war it_was between Roboam and Yeroboam all at_the_time of_life his. )
15.6Attamen bellum fuit inter Abiam et Jeroboam omni, etc. Jeroboam multo exercitu congregato, contra Abiam filium Roboam, qui in duabus tribubus patri successit, castrametatus est. Quod cum audisset Abia, obstupefactus est; verum roboratus, electo exercitu occurrit Jeroboam in locum qui vocatur Mons Amorrhæorum. Cumque orationem habuisset ad exercitum Jeroboam, tandem ait: In quo de victoria estis confidentes? An in vitulis aureis et aris, quæ vestræ sunt impietatis et non religionis indicia? An multitudo spem vobis præbuit? Sed nulla virtus illic est, ubi licet cum multis millibus licet unus pugnat injuste. Solummodo enim in justitia et pietate spes victoriæ consistit, quæ scilicet apud nos est, servantes a principio leges et verum Deum venerantes, etc. Deus autem exercitus Jeroboami audaciam dissolvit; exercitum autem Abiæ fecit excelsiorem. Nam quanta nullo bello refertur cædes fuisse commissa, neque Græcorum, neque Barbarorum, mirabilem perceperunt, Deo conferente, victoriam. Quingenta enim millia hostium bello prostrata sunt, etc.
15.6Atnevertheless war it_was between Abiam and Yeroboam omni, etc. Yeroboam much exercitu congregato, on_the_contrary Abiam son Roboam, who in/into/on two tribubus to_his_father successit, castrametatus it_is. That when/with listensset Abia, obstupefactus it_is; true roboratus, electo exercitu occurrit Yeroboam in/into/on place who is_called Mons Amorrhæorum. And_when speech I_hadsset to army Yeroboam, tandem he_said: In where from/about victoria you_are confidentes? An in/into/on calvessaureis and aris, which yours are impiety/irreverence and not/no religionis indicia? An multitude/crowd hope to_you beforebuit? But none virtue there it_is, where licet when/with many thousands licet one fighttinjuste. Solummodo because in/into/on justice and with_piety hope victoriæconsistit, which namely at we/us it_is, servantes from at_the_beginning laws and true God venerantes, etc. God however army Yeroboamiaudaciam dissolves; army however Abiæ he_did excelsiorem. For/Surely quanta nullo bello refertur kills to_have_been commissa, nor Græcorum, nor Barbarorum, mirabilemperceperunt, to_God conferente, victoriam. Whygenta because thousands hostium bello prostrata are, etc.
15:6Abijam inherited the hostility between the northern and southern kingdoms. Like Rehoboam (14:30), he faced war with Jeroboam. During one notable battle (2 Chr 13:2-20), when Abijam and his outnumbered forces were surrounded by northern troops, they cried out to the Lord; God delivered them and enabled them to inflict a severe defeat on Jeroboam.
From Sunday School lessons to inspiring sermons, modern portrayals of biblical characters often suffer from overly simplistic, two-dimensional perspectives on people’s moral character and deeds, but a careful reading of Scripture often shows reality to be more complex. The story of Abijah is ripe for similar misunderstanding unless one reads both biblical accounts of his reign. Abijah (also called Abijam) son of Rehoboam reigned for only three short years over Judah, and 1 Kings 15:3 tersely notes that “he committed all the sins that his father did before him; his heart was not true to the Lord his God.” It also notes that Abijah’s entire reign was marked by war with Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:6). From this it would be easy to assume that his reign was characterized only by wickedness and moral decline. Yet 2 Chronicles, though silent on the final assessment of Abijah’s overall character, seems to present Abijah as a leader who takes up the righteous cause of bringing the rebellious northern tribes of Israel back under the fold of Judah’s Davidic dynasty and Aaronic priesthood, though he was ultimately unsuccessful. As part of this effort, Abijah makes a foray into the northern tribes’ territory and arrives at Mount Zemaraim, but Jeroboam confronts him there with twice the amount of forces. The location of Mount Zemaraim is not certain, but it may have been located at the twin hills (which may explain the dual form of the name) of Ras ez Zemara, which suggests Abijah was advancing along a secondary route to avoid initial detection or fortifications along the main Central Ridge Route. There Abijah calls upon Jeroboam and all Israel to return to the leadership of David and Aaron. While Abijah is making his appeal, however, Jeroboam positions some of his forces in ambush behind Abijah’s forces, but Abijah’s men win a great victory over them and capture the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron (also called Ophrah). The writer of Chronicles notes that Abijah’s forces were victorious “because they relied on the Lord” and that Jeroboam never recovered from his weakened power for the rest of his reign, while Abijah grew strong (though Abijah’s reign was only for three years).
