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Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, reigned as king of Judah for three years and continued in the sins of his father.

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.

The son of Rehoboam, whom he succeeded on the throne of Judah (1 Chr. 3:10). He is also called Abijam (1 Kings 14:31; 15:1-8). He began his three years’ reign (2 Chr. 12:16; 13:1, 2) 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 (2 Chr. 13:5-12). 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 Kings 15:3; 2 Chr. 11:20-22). It is said in 1 Kings 15:2 that “his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom;” but in 2 Chr. 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 Kings 15:2 will thus, as it frequently elsewhere does, mean grand-daughter.