Abijam Reigns in Judah

15 (A)Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and (B)his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him (C)a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, because (D)David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, (E)except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. (F)Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. (G)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? (H)And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. (I)And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place.

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Abijam rules Judah

15 Abijam[a] became king of Judah in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Nebat’s son. He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah, and she was Abishalom’s daughter. Abijam followed all the sinful ways of his father before him. He didn’t follow the Lord his God with all his heart like his ancestor David. Even so, on account of David, the Lord his God gave Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem by supporting his son who succeeded him and by preserving Jerusalem. This was because David did the right thing in the Lord’s eyes. David didn’t deviate from anything the Lord commanded him throughout his life—except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam as long as Abijam lived. The rest of Abijam’s deeds and all that he did, aren’t they written in the official records of Judah’s kings? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam lay down with his ancestors; he was buried in David’s City. His son Asa succeeded him as king.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 15:1 Spelled Abijah in 2 Chron 12