15 During the 18th year of Jeroboam’s reign (Jeroboam was Nebat’s son), Abijam^[a] took over the throne of Judah. ² Abijam reigned 3 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah^[b] (Abishalom’s daughter). ³ Abijam indulged in the same wicked things as his father did. His heart did not wholly belong to the Eternal One his God, as his ancestor David’s heart had. ⁴ Nevertheless, the Eternal One his God left the lamp of His presence in Jerusalem for David’s sake, so that He might allow his son to grow up there and to make a strong foundation for Jerusalem. ⁵ David did what was good in the eyes of the Eternal, for he did not abandon the commands of the Eternal during his lifetime, with the exception of the incident with Uriah the Hittite.^{[c] 6} The war between Rehoboam’s and Jeroboam’s people continued during Abijam’s entire lifetime.

⁷ Is not the rest of Abijam’s story documented in the book of the chronicles of Judah’s kings? How war continued between Abijam and Jeroboam? ⁸ Abijam left this world to sleep with his fathers, and they laid him to rest in the city of David, as was the tradition. His son, Asa, then inherited the throne.