King
Abijah
Second King of Judah
913-910 BC
Biography
Abijah reigned only three years but was victorious in battle against Jeroboam I. He gave a powerful speech declaring Judah's faithfulness to the Levitical priesthood. When Israel ambushed Judah, God struck down 500,000 Israelites. Abijah captured several cities from Israel.
God is with us; he is our leader
Key events
- 1Speech before battle2 Chronicles 13:4-12→
Declared Judah's covenant faithfulness
Read the verse here
2 Chronicles 13:4-12Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim and said, “Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel!
- 2Victory over Israel2 Chronicles 13:13-20→
God struck down 500,000
Read the verse here
2 Chronicles 13:13-20Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to ambush from the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah, the ambush was behind them.
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Bold faith in battle
Weaknesses
Multiple sins, followed father's example
Lessons
Right doctrine can coexist with wrong practice. Victory comes from God.
Spiritual significance
Even flawed leaders can acknowledge truth and experience God's help in battle.
Abijah in Scripture
27 verses use this name, in 7 books. Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, some of these verses may speak of another person called Abijah.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament5 books · 25 mentions
1 Samuel1 mention
1 Chronicles5 mentions
- 1 Chronicles 2:24After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
- 1 Chronicles 3:11Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
- 1 Chronicles 6:28The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn and Abijah his second son.
- 1 Chronicles 7:9Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth; all these were Becher’s sons. Their genealogies were recorded according to the heads of their families—20,200 mighty men of valor.
- 1 Chronicles 24:10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
2 Chronicles15 mentions
- 2 Chronicles 11:20After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
- 2 Chronicles 11:22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
- 2 Chronicles 12:16And Rehoboam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Abijah reigned in his place.
- 2 Chronicles 13:1In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, Abijah became king of Judah,
- 2 Chronicles 13:2and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel; she was from Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
10 further mentions in 2 Chronicles — read them in the book.
New Testament2 books · 2 mentions
Matthew1 mention
Keep this page