Abijah

אֲבִיָּה · a.viy.yah · H0029IἈβιά · Abia · G0007G2 other spellings“the Lord is my father” Hitchcock's 186920 mentions in 4 books, most in 2 Chronicles (14)

Who he was

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 13:1–2; 1 Kings 15:1–2).

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 13:4–12). Despite being outnumbered, Judah prevailed against Israel because they relied on the Lord (2 Chronicles 13:13–18).

Abijah expanded his power, taking cities from Jeroboam and growing stronger (2 Chronicles 13:19–21). 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.

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherRehoboamMotherMaacahSiblingsJeush, Shemariah, Zaham, Attai, Ziza, ShelomithChildrenAsa

Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

20 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)

1 Kings4 mentions

1 Kings 14:31Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place.1 Kings 15:1Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.1 Kings 15:7The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.1 Kings 15:8Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place.

1 Chronicles1 mention

1 Chronicles 3:10Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,

2 Chronicles14 mentions

2 Chronicles 11:20After her, he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.2 Chronicles 11:22Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.2 Chronicles 12:16Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place.2 Chronicles 13:1In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.2 Chronicles 13:2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.2 Chronicles 13:3Abijah 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…2 Chronicles 13:4Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel:2 Chronicles 13:15Then the men of Judah gave a shout. As the men of Judah shouted, God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.2 Chronicles 13:17Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter, so five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell down slain.2 Chronicles 13:19Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages.2 Chronicles 13:20Jeroboam didn’t recover strength again in the days of Abijah. Yahweh struck him, and he died.2 Chronicles 13:21But Abijah grew mighty and took for himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.2 Chronicles 13:22The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.2 Chronicles 14:1So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.

Matthew1 mention

Matthew 1:7Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa.

What the dictionary says

Father (i.e., “possessor or worshipper”) of Jehovah.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

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Sources

STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain