1 Kings 15:1
New International Version
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah,

New Living Translation
Abijam began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign in Israel.

English Standard Version
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.

Berean Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah,

King James Bible
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

New King James Version
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

New American Standard Bible
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

NASB 1995
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

NASB 1977
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

Amplified Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

Christian Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of Israel’s King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah

American Standard Version
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.

Contemporary English Version
Abijam became king of Judah in Jeroboam's eighteenth year as king of Israel,

English Revised Version
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam (Nebat's son), Abijam began to rule Judah.

Good News Translation
In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam of Israel, Abijah became king of Judah,

International Standard Version
Abijah reigned over Judah starting in the eighteenth year of Nebat's son Jeroboam's reign.

Majority Standard Bible
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah,

NET Bible
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king over Judah.

New Heart English Bible
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

World English Bible
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam has reigned over Judah;

Young's Literal Translation
And in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam son of Nebat, reigned hath Abijam over Judah;

Smith's Literal Translation
And in the eighteenth year to Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam reigned over Judah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, Abiam reigned over Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam reigned over Judah.

New American Bible
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah;

New Revised Standard Version
Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
NOW in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijah reigned over Judah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And in year eighteen of King Yorbaam, son of Nebat, Abiah reigned over Yehuda three years in Jerusalem.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nabat, Abiu son of Roboam reigns over Juda.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abijam Reigns in Judah
1In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah, 2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 13:1-2
In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, Abijah became king of Judah, / and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

1 Kings 14:31
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David; his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonite. And his son Abijam reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 11:20-22
After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. / Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. / Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.

1 Kings 14:29-30
As for the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, along with all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? / There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.

2 Chronicles 12:16
And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.

1 Kings 12:16-20
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. / Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. ...

2 Chronicles 10:16-19
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. / Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. ...

1 Kings 11:11-13
Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. / Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. / Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

2 Chronicles 9:29-31
As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat? / Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. / And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

1 Kings 11:29-31
During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field. / And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces, / and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.

2 Chronicles 13:3-20
Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor. / Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel! / Do you not know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? ...

1 Kings 12:25-33
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel. / Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David. / If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” ...

2 Chronicles 11:1-4
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. / But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: / “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin ...

1 Kings 11:41-43
As for the rest of the acts of Solomon—all that he did, as well as his wisdom—are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? / Thus the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. / And Solomon rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 12:1-12
After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him forsook the Law of the LORD. / In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem / with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

1 Kings 14:31
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.

2 Chronicles 13:1,2
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah…

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Abijah Abijam Abi'jam Eighteenth Jeroboam Jerobo'am Judah Nebat Reign Reigned
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Abijah Abijam Abi'jam Eighteenth Jeroboam Jerobo'am Judah Nebat Reign Reigned
1 Kings 15
1. Abijam's wicked reign
7. Asa succeeds him
9. Asa's good reign
16. The war between Baasha and him causes him to make a league with Ben-Hadad
23. Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa
25. Nadab's wicked reign
27. Baasha conspiring against him, executes Ahijah's prophecy
31. Nadab's acts and death
33. Baasha's wicked reign














In the eighteenth year
This phrase sets a specific historical context, anchoring the events in a precise timeline. The eighteenth year refers to the reign of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. This chronological marker is crucial for understanding the parallel histories of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. It highlights the importance of synchronizing events between the two kingdoms, which often had separate and sometimes conflicting narratives.

of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat
Jeroboam, son of Nebat, was a significant figure in Israel's history, known for leading the northern tribes in rebellion against Rehoboam, Solomon's son, and establishing the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign is marked by idolatry, as he set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan to prevent his people from worshiping in Jerusalem. This act of apostasy had long-lasting spiritual consequences for Israel. The mention of Jeroboam here serves as a reminder of the spiritual decline that had set in due to his policies, contrasting with the Davidic line in Judah.

Abijam
Abijam, also known as Abijah in some translations, was the son of Rehoboam and the grandson of Solomon. His name means "My father is the sea" or "Yahweh is my father," reflecting a heritage tied to the covenant promises given to David. However, his reign was not marked by the same faithfulness as his ancestor David. The brief mention of Abijam here introduces a period of instability and spiritual compromise in Judah, as he continued many of the sinful practices of his father.

became king of Judah
The kingdom of Judah, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, remained under the rule of the Davidic line, fulfilling God's promise to David of an enduring dynasty. Abijam's ascension to the throne signifies the continuation of this line, despite the challenges and failures of individual kings. The phrase underscores the divine sovereignty and faithfulness in preserving the Davidic covenant, even when human leaders falter. It also sets the stage for the ongoing narrative of Judah's kings, who would vary in their adherence to God's laws and their impact on the nation's spiritual health.

(1) Abijam.--The form of the name given in 2 Chronicles 13, "Abijah," is probably correct, as having a more distinct significance. The variation here, if not (as some think) a mere false reading, may have been made for the sake of distinction from the son of Jeroboam.

Verse 1. - Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, reigned Abijam [see note on 1 Kings 14:31. It is implied in 2 Chronicles 11:20-22 that he was not the firstborn among Rehoboam's twenty-eight sons, but the eldest son of the favourite wife. As he left behind him thirty-eight children (2 Chronicles 13:21) at his decease, some three years later, he must have been of considerable age at his accession. This consideration rather favours the idea that Rehoboam was "forty and one years old when he began to reign" (2 Chronicles 12:13)] over Judah.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In the eighteenth
שְׁמֹנֶ֣ה (šə·mō·neh)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth

year
וּבִשְׁנַת֙ (ū·ḇiš·naṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8141: A year

of the reign
לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (lam·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

of Jeroboam
יָרָבְעָ֣ם (yā·rā·ḇə·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3379: Jeroboam -- 'the people increase', the name of two Israelites kings

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Nebat,
נְבָ֑ט (nə·ḇāṭ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5028: Nebat -- father of Jeroboam

Abijam
אֲבִיָּ֖ם (’ă·ḇî·yām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 38: Abijam -- 'father of (the) sea', an Israelite name

became king
מָלַ֥ךְ (mā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

of
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Judah,
יְהוּדָֽה׃ (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT History: 1 Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 14:31
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