Abijah (1 Kings 14:31; 1 Kings 15:1–8; 1 Chronicles 3:10; 2 Chronicles 11:18–23; 2 Chronicles 12:16; 2 Chronicles 13:1–2; 2 Chronicles 13:3–12; 2 Chronicles 13:13–17; 2 Chronicles 13:18–20; 2 Chronicles 13:21–22; 2 Chronicles 14:1; Matthew 1:7)

King of Judah, son of Rehoboam (called Abijam in 1 Kings)

Rehoboam's son, named Abijam in 1 Kings and Abijah in 2 Chronicles, who reigned three years in Jerusalem; Kings says his heart was not perfect with the LORD, and Chronicles tells how he spoke to Jeroboam from mount Zemaraim and God smote Israel before Judah.

Rehoboam took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and “she bare him Abijah” (2 Chronicles 11:20). He “loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines” (2 Chronicles 11:21), and “appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, even the prince among his brethren; for he was minded to make him king” (2 Chronicles 11:22). When Rehoboam slept with his fathers, “Abijam his son reigned in his stead” (1 Kings 14:31). Kings says “his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom” (1 Kings 15:2); at the start of his reign Chronicles says instead “his mother's name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah” (2 Chronicles 13:2).

The two books also tell his reign in different terms. Kings gives a verdict: “he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3), yet “for David's sake did Jehovah his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem” (1 Kings 15:4). It says only that “there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam” (1 Kings 15:7). Chronicles tells of that war: Abijah stood on mount Zemaraim and called out to Jeroboam and all Israel, “for we keep the charge of Jehovah our God; but ye have forsaken him” (2 Chronicles 13:11). When Judah cried to the LORD, “God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah” (2 Chronicles 13:15), and Abijah took Beth-el, Jeshanah and Ephron from Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 13:19).

“But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters” (2 Chronicles 13:21). He reigned three years; “Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead” (1 Kings 15:8). The New Testament names him only in the line from Solomon: “Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa” (Matthew 1:7).

Strengths

• Relied upon the LORD in battle

Weaknesses

• Walked in his father's sins
• Heart not perfect with the LORD

Themes

• Chosen among brothers
• Two accounts of one reign
• Lamp for David's sake
• War with Jeroboam
• Crying to the LORD

Appointed chief among his brethren (2 Chronicles 11:18–23)

Rehoboam takes Maacah, who bears Abijah, loves her above all his wives, and appoints Abijah chief among his brethren, minded to make him king.

Begins to reign over Judah (1 Kings 14:31; 1 Kings 15:1–2; 2 Chronicles 12:16; 2 Chronicles 13:1–2)

Rehoboam sleeps with his fathers and Abijam reigns; in Jeroboam's eighteenth year he begins, and reigns three years in Jerusalem.

The verdict of Kings (1 Kings 15:3–5; 1 Kings 15:7)

Kings says he walked in his father's sins and his heart was not perfect with the LORD, yet for David's sake the LORD gave him a lamp in Jerusalem.

The verdict of Kings

“And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings 15:3).

“Nevertheless for David's sake did Jehovah his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem; because David did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:4-5).

Of the war with Jeroboam Kings says only: “And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam” (1 Kings 15:7).

Speaks from mount Zemaraim (2 Chronicles 13:3–12)

Before the battle Abijah stands on mount Zemaraim and tells Jeroboam and Israel that the LORD gave the kingdom to David, that Jeroboam made golden calves, and that Judah has not forsaken the LORD.

Speaks from mount Zemaraim

“And Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor” (2 Chronicles 13:3). “And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel” (2 Chronicles 13:4).

“Ought ye not to know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?” (2 Chronicles 13:5). He names the golden calves “which Jeroboam made you for gods” (2 Chronicles 13:8) and asks, “Have ye not driven out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites” (2 Chronicles 13:9).

“But as for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken him … for we keep the charge of Jehovah our God; but ye have forsaken him. And, behold, God is with us at our head … O children of Israel, fight ye not against Jehovah, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper” (2 Chronicles 13:10-12).

The ambush and the battle (2 Chronicles 13:13–17)

Jeroboam brings an ambushment behind Judah; Judah cries to the LORD, the priests sound the trumpets, and God smites Jeroboam and Israel, five hundred thousand of whom fall.

The ambush and the battle

“But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them. And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried unto Jehovah, and the priests sounded with the trumpets” (2 Chronicles 13:13-14).

“Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand” (2 Chronicles 13:15-16).

“And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men” (2 Chronicles 13:17).

Cities taken; Jeroboam dies (2 Chronicles 13:18–20)

The children of Judah prevail because they relied upon the LORD; Abijah pursues Jeroboam and takes Beth-el, Jeshanah and Ephron, and the LORD smites Jeroboam so that he dies.

His acts recorded; death and succession (2 Chronicles 13:21–22; 1 Kings 15:7–8; 2 Chronicles 14:1)

Abijah waxes mighty with fourteen wives and many children; his acts are written in books the text names; he sleeps with his fathers and Asa his son reigns.

His acts recorded; death and succession

“But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters” (2 Chronicles 13:21). Chronicles says his acts, “and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo” (2 Chronicles 13:22); Kings asks, “are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” (1 Kings 15:7).

“So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years” (2 Chronicles 14:1).

Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:22; 1 Kings 14:31; Matthew 1:7)

His father, who appointed him chief among his brethren, minded to make him king; Abijah reigned in his stead.

Maacah (1 Kings 15:2; 2 Chronicles 11:20–21)

Named in Kings and in 2 Chronicles 11 as his mother, the daughter of Abishalom or Absalom, whom Rehoboam loved above all his wives.

Micaiah daughter of Uriel (2 Chronicles 13:2)

2 Chronicles 13:2 names his mother as Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.

Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:7; 2 Chronicles 13:2–20)

There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam; Abijah spoke to him from mount Zemaraim, and God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

Asa (1 Kings 15:8; 2 Chronicles 14:1; Matthew 1:7)

His son, who reigned in his stead.

David (1 Kings 15:3–5; 2 Chronicles 13:5)

The standard Kings sets against his heart; for David's sake the LORD gave him a lamp in Jerusalem.

The LORD (2 Chronicles 13:10–12; 2 Chronicles 13:14–15; 2 Chronicles 13:18; 2 Chronicles 13:20)

Abijah said Judah had not forsaken him; Judah cried to him and relied upon him, and he smote Jeroboam.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 14:31–15:8
• 2 Chronicles 11:18–23
• 2 Chronicles 13:1–14:1

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