Abijah
- Dates
- 913–911 BC
Name is more often Abijah which means "Yahweh is a father." The son of Rehoboam, he rules Judah for 3 years. He is a descendent of Absalom and is a wicked king like his father. He is victorious in a battle against Israel, relying on the Lord.
In detail
Abijah, name means "Yahweh is a father".
The second king of Judah after Solomon, called Abijam by the author of Kings. He was the son of Rehoboam and ruled Judah 3 years (c. 913—c. 911 b.c.). Through his mother he was a descendant of Absalom (1 Ki 15:2). He followed his father in wickedness, and also continued the war with Jeroboam I (vs 3, 6, 7). In a certain battle, because he "relied upon the Lord God" he was able to inflict a crushing defeat upon Israel (2 Chr 13:3—20). He had 14 wives, 22 sons, and 16 daughters (v 21). His biography was written by the prophet Iddo (v 22).
The apparent discrepancy in the maternity of Abijah (1 Ki 15:2 cf. 2 Chr 13:2) is generally explained as follows: "Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom," or Absalom, was really the granddaughter, not daughter, of Absalom. The Hebrew word for daughter may refer to any female descendant no matter how remote.
Bible passages
- 1 Kings 15:1-2
1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
- 1 Kings 15:8
And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
Text of the King James Version.
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