King of Judah, son of Rehoboam
Abijah
Named in 20 verses across 4 books, first in 1 Kings 14:31.
אֲבִיָּהAbijah
אֲבִיָּ֫הוּAbijah
אֲבִיָּםAbijam
ἈβιάAbijah
Also called Abijam.
The name means “the Lord is my father.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Abijah Written by AI
Abijah, also known as Abijam (1 Kings 14:31), was the second king of Judah after the division of the united monarchy. He was the son of Rehoboam and Maacah, the daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20). Abijah reigned for three years in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 13:1 to 2; 1 Kings 15:1 to 2). During his reign, there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam, the king of Israel (2 Chronicles 13:3). In a battle at Mount Zemaraim, Abijah addressed the Israelites, emphasizing the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty and the importance of the Levitical priesthood (2 Chronicles 13:4 to 12). Despite being outnumbered, Judah prevailed against Israel because they relied on the Lord (2 Chronicles 13:13 to 18). Abijah expanded his power, taking cities from Jeroboam and growing stronger (2 Chronicles 13:19 to 21). However, like his father Rehoboam, Abijah did not fully follow the Lord and allowed idolatry to persist in Judah (1 Kings 15:3). He walked in all the sins of his father and did not have a fully devoted heart like his ancestor David (1 Kings 15:3). Abijah had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters (2 Chronicles 13:21). After his death, his son Asa succeeded him as king (1 Kings 15:8; 2 Chronicles 14:1). Abijah is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:7.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Abijah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Father (i.e., “possessor or worshipper”) of Jehovah. (1.) 1 Chr. 7:8. (2.) 1 Chr. 2:24.
(3.) The second son of Samuel (1 Sam. 8:2; 1 Chr. 6:28). His conduct, along with that of his brother, as a judge in Beer-sheba, to which office his father had appointed him, led to popular discontent, and ultimately provoked the people to demand a royal form of government.
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(4.) A descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, a chief of one of the twenty-four orders into which the priesthood was divided by David (1 Chr. 24:10). The order of Abijah was one of those which did not return from the Captivity (Ezra 2:36-39; Neh. 7:39-42; 12:1).
(5.) The son of Rehoboam, whom he succeeded on the throne of Judah (1 Chr. 3:10). He is also called Abijam (1 Kings 14:31; 15:1-8). He began his three years’ reign (2 Chr. 12:16; 13:1,2) with a strenuous but unsuccessful effort to bring back the ten tribes to their allegiance. His address to “Jeroboam and all Israel,” before encountering them in battle, is worthy of being specially noticed (2 Chr. 13:5-12). It was a very bloody battle, no fewer than 500,000 of the army of Israel having perished on the field. He is described as having walked “in all the sins of his father” (1 Kings 15:3; 2 Chr. 11:20-22). It is said in 1 Kings 15:2 that “his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom;” but in 2 Chr. 13:2 we read, “his mother’s name was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.” The explanation is that Maachah is just a variation of the name Michaiah, and that Abishalom is probably the same as Absalom, the son of David. It is probable that “Uriel of Gibeah” married Tamar, the daughter of Absalom (2 Sam. 14:27), and by her had Maachah. The word “daughter” in 1 Kings 15:2 will thus, as it frequently elsewhere does, mean grand-daughter.
(6.) A son of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel. On account of his severe illness when a youth, his father sent his wife to consult the prophet Ahijah regarding his recovery. The prophet, though blind with old age, knew the wife of Jeroboam as soon as she approached, and under a divine impulse he announced to her that inasmuch as in Abijah alone of all the house of Jeroboam there was found “some good thing toward the Lord,” he only would come to his grave in peace. As his mother crossed the threshold of the door on her return, the youth died, and “all Israel mourned for him” (1 Kings 14:1-18).
(7.) The daughter of Zechariah (2 Chr. 29:1; comp. Isa. 8:2), and afterwards the wife of Ahaz. She is also called Abi (2 Kings 18:2).
(8.) One of the sons of Becher, the son of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:8). “Abiah,” A.V.
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 1 Kings 14:31
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David; his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. And his son Abijam reigned in his place.
- 1 Kings 15:1
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah,
- 1 Kings 15:7
As for the rest of the acts of Abijam, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
- 1 Kings 15:8
And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place.
- 1 Chronicles 3:10
Solomon’s son was Rehoboam: Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
- 2 Chronicles 11:20
After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
- 2 Chronicles 11:22
Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
- 2 Chronicles 12:16
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.
- 2 Chronicles 13:1
In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, Abijah became king of Judah,
- 2 Chronicles 13:2
and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
- 2 Chronicles 13:3
Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor.
- 2 Chronicles 13:4
Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel!
- 2 Chronicles 13:15
and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. And when they raised the cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 13:17
Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.
- 2 Chronicles 13:19
Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their villages.
- 2 Chronicles 13:20
Jeroboam did not again recover his power during the days of Abijah, and the LORD struck him down and he died.
- 2 Chronicles 13:21
But Abijah grew strong, married fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
- 2 Chronicles 13:22
Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, along with his ways and his words, are written in the Treatise of the Prophet Iddo.
- 2 Chronicles 14:1
Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.
- Matthew 1:7
Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.