The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and then enter ¹  the battle; but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle.

Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors, ¹  while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors. ² 

The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. ¹  So they cried out for help to the Lord. The priests blew their trumpets,

and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem. ¹ 

Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, ¹  attacked Jehoshaphat.

When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem, ¹ 

Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; ¹  the Israelites served as his soldiers, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces. ² 

The events of Rehoboam’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded ¹  in the Annals of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that include genealogical records.

He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. ¹  His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. ²  There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the Lord gave him peace.

While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.

Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you ¹  before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.” ² 

The rest of the events of Jotham’s reign, including all his military campaigns and his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah. ¹ 

He appointed military officers over the army ¹  and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them, ²  saying,

He has with him mere human strength, ¹  but the Lord our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!” The army ²  was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

“When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies, ¹  and they direct their prayers to you toward this chosen city and this temple I built for your honor, ² 

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and Benjamin ¹  to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

Certainly ¹  the Lord watches the whole earth carefully ²  and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. ³  You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war.