« | 2 Chronicles 13 | » |
1 And in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3 And Abijah set the battle in order with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men. Jeroboam also set the battle in order against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty men of valor.
4 And Abijah stood up on mount Zemaraim, in the hills of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel.
5 Should you not know that Jehovah, the God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, has risen up and has rebelled against his lord.
7 And there are gathered to him vain men, the sons of Belial, and have made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, and Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted and could not withstand them.
8 And now you think to withstand the kingdom of Jehovah in the hands of the sons of David. And you are a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.
9 Have you not cast out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, he may be a priest of those who are no gods.
10 But as for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken Him. And the priests who minister to Jehovah are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in the work.
11 And they burn to the Lord every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense, and the showbread on the pure table, and the lampstand of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of Jehovah our God. But you have forsaken Him.
12 And behold, God Himself is with us as Commander, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against Jehovah, the God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!
13 But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come around behind them, so that they were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
14 And Judah turned, and, behold, the battle was before and behind. And they cried to Jehovah, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
15 And the men of Judah shouted. And it happened as the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16 And the sons of Israel fled before Judah. And God delivered them into their hand.
17 And Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter. And there fell down dead five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel.
18 And the sons of Israel were humbled at that time, and the sons of Judah won because they relied on Jehovah, the God of their fathers.
19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages, and Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.
20 And Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah. And Jehovah struck him and he died.
21 And Abijah became mighty, and married fourteen wives, and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the inquiry of the prophet Iddo.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.