Who is King Abijah in the Bible?

Quick facts

Father: King Rehoboam, 1Ki 15:8
Predecessor: King Rehoboam, 1Ki 15:8
Mother: Maacah/Michaiah, 2Ch 13:2; 1Ki 15:2
Reign:  913 BC – 912 BC
Succession: 2nd king
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Length of reign: 3 years, 1Ki 15:2
Successor: King Asa, 1Ki 15:8
Other names:
Abijam, 1Ki 14:31; 1Ki 15:1; 1Ki 15:7-8
Abia, 1Ch 3:10, Mt 1:7
Morality: evil king, 1Ki 15:3
Bible references: 2Ch 13:1-22; 1Ki 15:1-8

Abijah becomes king of Judah

The name Abijah means My Father is God. During the reign of King Rehoboam, Israel split into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. When King Rehoboam, the first king of the Kingdom of Judah, died, his son Abijah also called Abijam was made king in his place.

Abijah, also called Abijam and Abia, was not King Rehoboam’s first son. However, because King Rehoboam loved Maacah, Abijam’s mother, more than all his wives and concubines, he did Maacah a favor by selecting his son Abijah as the crown prince who should succeed him (2 Chronicles 11:20-21). King Abijah reigned for three years in Jerusalem.  His mother’s name was Maacah, also called Michaiah.

King Abijah married 14 wives and had 22 sons and 16 daughters. Sadly, he is listed among the kings who did evil in the sight of the Lord. It is written about him that he walked in all the sins of his father and his heart was not wholly true to God. King Abijah died of natural causes and his son Asa was made a king in his place.

Abijah goes to war against King Jeroboam I

Abijah saw King Jeroboam I as a rebel who had managed to split Israel into two to usurp 10 of the tribes. In a bid to serve King Jeroboam I with justice, he went to war against him, intending to reclaim the ten tribes from him. Abijah mustered an army of 400,000 brave men to face King Jeroboam I who had an army of 800,000 brave men. (2 Chronicles 13:3)

Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which was in the highlands of Ephraim, and spoke loudly to King Jeroboam I. In his speech, he condemned the Kingdom of Israel for rebelling against the house of David, for worshipping the golden calves, and for rejecting God’s priests and the Levites. He also confessed his faith in the Lord, saying, “… behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. …” (2 Chronicles 13:12)

During the battle, King Jeroboam I set an ambush for the army of Judah. Before they knew it, the army of Israel was fighting them in front and behind. Then they cried to the Lord and the priests blew the trumpets. And they raised a battle shout. And when they shouted, God turned the battle against the army of Israel and they were badly defeated. (2 Chronicles 13:13-15)

By the time the battle was over, the army of Judah had killed 500,000 warriors of Israel. The 300,000 men of Israel who survived fled for their lives. Following the victory, Abijah seized towns from the Kingdom of Israel. (2 Chronicles 13:16-17)

Achievement of Abijah

  • With God’s help, King Abijah won the war against King Jeroboam I, killing 500,000 men of Israel. 2 Chronicles 13:17
  • Because of his victory in the war, King Abijah took cities from King Jeroboam I such as Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages. 2 Chronicles 13:19

Major events during the reign of Abijah

Contemporaries of Abijah

King Jeroboam I had reigned for 18 years when Abijah became a king and Abijah died during the 21st year of King Jeroboam I’s reign. These two were enemies for life.

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