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.
- 1Kgs.14: And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.
- 1Kgs.15: Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
- 1Kgs.15: Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
- 1Kgs.15: And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
- 1Chr.3: And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
- 2Chr.11: And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
- 2Chr.11: And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
- 2Chr.12: And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
- 2Chr.13: Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
- 2Chr.13: 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.
- 2Chr.13: And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.
- 2Chr.13: And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
- 2Chr.13: 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.
- 2Chr.13: And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
- 2Chr.13: And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.
- 2Chr.13: Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.
- 2Chr.13: But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
- 2Chr.13: And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.
- 2Chr.14: 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.
- Matt.1: And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;