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Abijah אֲבִיָּה

Male Tribe of Judah H0029I 4 books

King of Judah, son of Rehoboam

Biography

Abijah, also known as Abijam (1Ki.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 (2Ch.11.20). Abijah reigned for three years in Jerusalem (2Ch.13.1-2; 1Ki.15.1-2).

During his reign, there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam, the king of Israel (2Ch.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 (2Ch.13.4-12). Despite being outnumbered, Judah prevailed against Israel because they relied on the Lord (2Ch.13.13-18).

Abijah expanded his power, taking cities from Jeroboam and growing stronger (2Ch.13.19-21). However, like his father Rehoboam, Abijah did not fully follow the Lord and allowed idolatry to persist in Judah (1Ki.15.3). He walked in all the sins of his father and did not have a fully devoted heart like his ancestor David (1Ki.15.3).

Abijah had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters (2Ch.13.21). After his death, his son Asa succeeded him as king (1Ki.15.8; 2Ch.14.1). Abijah is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Mat.1.7.

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In Scripture

4 biblical books ; 1 with study content
1 Chronicles 1 verse
  • 1 Chronicles 3:10

    "Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,"

2 Chronicles 5 verses
  • 2 Chronicles 11:20

    "After her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith."

  • 2 Chronicles 11:22

    "Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king."

  • 2 Chronicles 12:16

    "Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city; and Abijah his son reigned in his place."

  • 2 Chronicles 13:1

    "In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah."

  • 2 Chronicles 13:2

    "He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam."

1 Kings 4 verses
  • 1 Kings 14:31

    "Rehoboam 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 15:1

    "Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah."

  • 1 Kings 15:7

    "The 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 15:8

    "Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place."

Matthew 1 verse
  • Matthew 1:7

    "Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa."

    Study Matthew →

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew אֲבִיָּה H0029I
Spelled Hebrew אֲבִיָּ֫הוּ H0029I
Named Hebrew אֲבִיָּם H0038
Greek Greek Ἀβιά G0007G