1. Abijah, King of Judah

Abijah, also known as Abijam, was the son of Rehoboam and the grandson of Solomon. He became the second king of the southern kingdom of Judah, reigning for three years around 913–911 BC. His reign is recorded in 1 Kings 15:1-8 and 2 Chronicles 13:1-22.

Abijah's reign was marked by conflict with Jeroboam, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel. The chronicler provides a detailed account of a significant battle between the two kingdoms, where Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and addressed Jeroboam and all Israel, reminding them of the Davidic covenant and the legitimacy of his rule. He declared, "But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him" (2 Chronicles 13:10). Despite being outnumbered, Abijah's forces achieved a decisive victory, attributed to their reliance on the LORD.

Abijah's reign was characterized by a mixture of faithfulness and failure. While he upheld certain religious practices, he did not remove the high places, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD as David's was. The biblical account in 1 Kings 15:3 notes, "He walked in all the sins his father had committed before him, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been" .

2. Abijah, Son of Samuel

Abijah was one of the two sons of the prophet Samuel, the other being Joel. They served as judges in Beersheba, but their conduct was corrupt, as they "turned aside after dishonest gain, accepted bribes, and perverted justice" (1 Samuel 8:3). Their behavior led the elders of Israel to demand a king, which ultimately resulted in the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel.

3. Abijah, Son of Jeroboam

Abijah was the son of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He fell ill, prompting Jeroboam to send his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah to inquire about the boy's fate. The prophet foretold the child's death, stating that he alone of Jeroboam's house would be mourned and buried because "in him there is found something good toward the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam" (1 Kings 14:13).

4. Abijah, Descendant of Eleazar

Abijah was a descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, and the head of one of the twenty-four priestly divisions established by King David. The division of Abijah was the eighth in the order of service (1 Chronicles 24:10). This division is notably mentioned in the New Testament, as Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged to the priestly division of Abijah (Luke 1:5).

5. Other References

The name Abijah appears in various genealogies and lists throughout the Old Testament, often referring to individuals with less detailed accounts. These include a son of Becher, a descendant of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:8), and a wife of Hezron, a descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:24). The name Abijah, meaning "My Father is Yahweh," reflects a common theophoric element in Hebrew names, indicating a connection to the divine.

The Secret of victory
... These words are the summing-up of the story of a strange old-world battle between
Jeroboam, the adventurer who rent the kingdom, and Abijah, the son of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the secret of victory.htm

Abijah's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Abijah's (3 Occurrences). 1 Kings 15:6 Now there was war
between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. (See NIV). ...
/a/abijah's.htm - 7k

Abijah (32 Occurrences)
... The order of Abijah was one of those which did not return from the Captivity (Ezra
2:36-39; Nehemiah 7:39-42; 12:1). ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABIJAH. ...
/a/abijah.htm - 25k

Abijam (4 Occurrences)
... Father of the sea; ie, "seaman" the name always used in Kings of the king of Judah,
the son of Rehoboam, elsewhere called Abijah (1 Kings 15:1, 7, 8). (see ...
/a/abijam.htm - 9k

Abi'jah (26 Occurrences)
Abi'jah. Abijah, Abi'jah. Abijah's . ... Matthew 1:7 and Solomon begat Rehoboam,
and Rehoboam begat Abijah, and Abijah begat Asa, (See RSV). ...
/a/abi'jah.htm - 12k

Commentary (2 Occurrences)
... In the commentaries (Midhrashim) mentioned by the Chronicler as among his sources,
the story of Abijah's reign was presumably related and elaborated with a ...
/c/commentary.htm - 8k

Four (3139 Occurrences)
... a very large number, eg the congregation of Israel that gathered at Mizpah, "four
hundred thousand footmen that drew sword" (Judges 20:2, 17); Abijah's army (2 ...
/f/four.htm - 15k

Proper (62 Occurrences)
... in the intimacy of Yahweh" (Nehemiah 3:6). When the name is a sentence, the predicate
may be (a) a noun, the copula being implied, as Abijah, "Yah is a father ...
/p/proper.htm - 57k

Names (133 Occurrences)
... in the intimacy of Yahweh" (Nehemiah 3:6). When the name is a sentence, the predicate
may be (a) a noun, the copula being implied, as Abijah, "Yah is a father ...
/n/names.htm - 101k

Who was King Abijah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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What is the significance of Gibeah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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