Abijah (King of Judah)

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Kings of Judah

David

Solomon

Rehoboam

Abijah

Asa

Jehoshaphat

Jehoram

Ahaziah

Athaliah

Jehoash

Amaziah

Uzziah

Jotham

Ahaz

Hezekiah

Manasseh

Amon

Josiah

Jehoahaz

Jehoiakim

Jehoiachin

Zedekiah

The son of Rehoboam, whom he succeeded on the throne of Judah (1Chr 3:10). He is also called Abijam (1 Kg 14:31; 1 Kg 15:1). He began his three years' reign (2Chr 12:16; 2Chr 13:1) 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 (2Chr 13:5). 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 Kg 15:3; 2Chr 11:20).

It is said in 1 Kg 15:2 that "his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom;" but in 2Chr 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 Kg 15:2 will thus, as it frequently elsewhere does, mean grand-daughter.

Ruled from 913 to 911/10.