Abi'jam, also known as Abijah, was a king of Judah and the son of Rehoboam and Maacah, the daughter of Absalom. His reign is recorded in the biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Abi'jam's name means "father of the sea" or "my father is the sea," though the name Abijah means "Yahweh is my father."

Reign and Historical Context

Abi'jam reigned over Judah for three years, from approximately 913 to 911 BC, following the death of his father, Rehoboam. His rule is noted for its continuation of the practices and policies established by his father, which included the worship of foreign gods and the high places that were prevalent during his reign. The biblical account of his reign is relatively brief, but it provides insight into the political and religious climate of Judah during this period.

Biblical Account

1 Kings 15:1-8 provides a summary of Abi'jam's reign, highlighting his failure to fully commit to the ways of the Lord as his ancestor David had done. The text states: "In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins his father had committed before him. His heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been."

Despite his shortcomings, the Lord allowed Abi'jam to maintain his position as king for the sake of David, as noted in 1 Kings 15:4: "Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong."

2 Chronicles 13 provides a more detailed account of Abi'jam's reign, particularly his conflict with Jeroboam, the king of Israel. Abi'jam is depicted as a leader who, despite his personal failings, recognized the covenantal promises made to David and sought to assert the legitimacy of his rule over Judah. In a speech before a battle with Jeroboam, Abi'jam declared: "And now you intend to resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of the descendants of David. You are indeed a vast army, and you have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods" (2 Chronicles 13:8).

Military Conflict

Abi'jam's reign was marked by ongoing conflict with the northern kingdom of Israel, ruled by Jeroboam. The battle between the two kingdoms is described in 2 Chronicles 13, where Abi'jam's forces, though outnumbered, achieved victory over Jeroboam's army. This victory is attributed to the reliance on the Lord, as the chronicler notes: "So the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the people of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors" (2 Chronicles 13:18).

Legacy

Abi'jam's reign was relatively short, and he was succeeded by his son Asa, who is noted for his religious reforms and efforts to return Judah to the worship of Yahweh. Abi'jam's legacy is mixed; while he is criticized for not fully following the ways of the Lord, his reign is also seen as a continuation of the Davidic line, which was central to the biblical narrative of Judah's history. His account serves as a reminder of the complexities of leadership and the challenges of maintaining faithfulness amidst political and religious pressures.Abi'jam (4 Occurrences)

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 the Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.
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1 Kings 15:1
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.
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1 Kings 15:7
And the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
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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.
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Abi'jam (4 Occurrences)
Abi'jam. Abijam, Abi'jam. Abi-keilah . Multi-Version Concordance
Abi'jam (4 Occurrences). 1 Kings 14:31 And Rehoboam slept with ...
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Abijam (4 Occurrences)

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Abi-keilah (1 Occurrence)
Abi-keilah. Abi'jam, Abi-keilah. Abila . Multi-Version Concordance Abi-keilah
(1 Occurrence). ... (YLT). Abi'jam, Abi-keilah. Abila . Reference Bible.
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