Abijam

Synopsis

Abijam (אבים meaning "father of the sea" or "my father is Yahweh"), son of Rehoboam, was a king of Judah in the 10th century BC. He was also called Abijah.

Contents

See also Easton's Bible Dictionary entry on Abijam

Related topics

• Ancient Israel and Judah
• 1 Kings 15

Comments, Personal Articles, Studies and Sermons

Abijam (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)

For related quotations see Abijam (quotes)

Main article

Abijam (אבים meaning "father of the sea" or "my father is Yahweh"), son of Rehoboam, was a king of Judah. He was also called Abijah.

Reign

William F. Albright has dated his reign to 915 BC-913 BC, while E.R. Thiele offers the dates 913 BC-911 BC.

He began his three years' reign (2 Chronicles 12:16; 13:1,2) with a strenuous but unsuccessful effort to bring back the ten tribes to their allegiance. His address to "Jeroboam and all Israel," before encountering them in battle, is worthy of especial notice (2 Chronicles 13:5-12). It was a very bloody battle, no fewer than 500,000 of the army of Israel having perished on the field.

He is described as having walked "in all the sins of his father" (1 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 11:20-22).

Family

It is said in 1 Kings 15:2 that "his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom" but in 2 Chronicles 13:2 we read, "his mother's name was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah." The explanation is that Maachah is just a variation of the name Michaiah, and that Abishalom is probably the same as Absalom, the son of David. It is probable that "Uriel of Gibeah" married Tamar, the daughter of Absalom (2 Samuel 14:27), and by her had Maachah. The word "daughter" in 1 Kings 15:2 will thus, as it frequently elsewhere does, mean granddaughter.

Links

• Wikipedia - Abijam

---

Return to Characters of the Bible