In the eighteenth year of King Yarovam, Aviyah began to rule over Yehudah.

He ruled in Yerushalayim for three years. His mother's name was Mikayahu, daughter of Uri'el from Giv'ah. War occurred between Aviyah and Yarovam.

Aviyah prepared for war with a force of 400,000 skilled warriors. Yarovam also prepared for war against him with 800,000 skilled warriors.

Aviyah stood on Mount Ts'marayim, which is in the hill country of Efrayim, and said, 'Listen to me, Yarovam and all Yisra'el!'

'Do you not know that יהוה, the Elohim of Yisra'el, gave kingship over Yisra'el to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?'

'Yarovam, son of Nevat, the servant of Shelomoh, son of David, rebelled against his master.'

'And worthless men, sons of Beliyya'al, gathered against him and strengthened themselves against Rehavyam, son of Shelomoh. Rehavyam was young and tender-hearted, and could not stand firm against them.'

'And now you say you will strengthen yourselves against the kingdom of יהוה, which is in the hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and you have with you golden calves which Yarovam made for you as elohim.'

'Have you not driven out the kohanim of יהוה, the sons of Aharon, and the Levites? And you have made for yourselves kohanim like the peoples of the lands. Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams becomes a kohen for those who are not elohim.'

'But as for us, יהוה is our Elohim, and we have not abandoned Him. And the kohanim who serve יהוה are the sons of Aharon, and the Levites are at their service.'

'And they offer to יהוה burnt offerings every morning and every evening, and fragrant incense. And the arrangement of bread is on the pure table, and the golden menorah and its lamps are to be lit every evening. For we are keeping the charge of יהוה our Elohim, but you have abandoned Him.'

'And behold, with us at the head is Elohim, and his kohanim with the trumpets of alarm to sound against you, sons of Yisra'el. Do not fight against יהוה, the Elohim of your fathers, for you will not succeed.'

'But Yarovam had set an ambush to come from behind them. So they were in front of Yehudah, and the ambush was behind them.'

'And Yehudah turned, and behold, the battle was in front of them and behind them. And they cried out to יהוה, and the kohanim sounded the trumpets.'

'And the men of Yehudah shouted. And it happened when the men of Yehudah shouted, that Elohim struck Yarovam and all Yisra'el before Aviyah and Yehudah.'

'And the sons of Yisra'el fled from before Yehudah, and Elohim gave them into their hand.'

'And Aviyah and his people struck them with a great slaughter. 500,000 chosen men fell slain from Yisra'el.'

'And the sons of Yisra'el were subdued at that time, and the sons of Yehudah became strong, because they relied on יהוה, the Elohim of their fathers.'

'And Aviyah pursued Yarovam and captured cities from him: Beit-El and its villages, Yeshanah and its villages, and Efrayim and its villages.'

'And Yarovam did not regain strength during the days of Aviyah. And יהוה struck him, and he died.'

'But Aviyah strengthened himself. He took fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.'

'The rest of the deeds of Aviyah, his ways, and his words are written in the commentary of the prophet 'Iddo.'

'And Aviyah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son ruled in his place. In his days, the land was quiet for ten years.'