Lexical Definition
Ἀβιά Abiá (ab-ee-ah') Abijah N:N-M-P
of Hebrew origin (אֲבִיָּה)
Abia.
- Abijah, the name of two Israelites
Abbott-Smith
Ἀβιά (Heb. אֲבִיָּה, אֲבִיָּהוּ), ὁ, indecl. (in FlJ, Ἀβίας, -α),
Abia, Abijah.
1. Son of Rehoboam (III Ki 14:1): Mt 1:7.
2. A priest of the line of Eleazar (I Ch 24:3, 10): Lk 1:5.†
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Kings | 14:1 |
| 1 Chronicles | 24:3 · 24:10 |
| Matthew | 1:7 |
| Luke | 1:5 |
Profile
Male • King of Judah • King of Judah, son of Rehoboam
King living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Abijah, the son of Rehoboam, reigned as king of Judah for three years and continued in the sins of his father.
- A king of Judah living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.14.31;
- referred to as Abijah אֲבִיָּה, or Abijah אֲבִיָּה, or Abijam (NIV= Abijah, KJV= Abia) אֲבִיָּם, or Abijah Ἀβιά;
- son of Rehoboam רְחַבְעָם and Maacah מַעֲכָה;
- a brother of Attai עַתַּי, Ziza זִיזָא and Shelomith שְׁלֹמִית;
- father of Asa אָסָא;
- half-brother of: Jeush יְעוּשׁ, Shemariah שְׁמַרְיָה and Zaham זַהַם.
Abijah, also known as Abijam (1 Kings 14:31), was the second king of Judah after the division of the united monarchy. He was the son of Rehoboam and Maacah, the daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20). Abijah reigned for three years in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 13:1-2; 1 Kings 15:1-2).
During his reign, there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam, the king of Israel (2 Chronicles 13:3). In a battle at Mount Zemaraim, Abijah addressed the Israelites, emphasizing the legitimacy of the Davidic dynasty and the importance of the Levitical priesthood (2 Chronicles 13:4-12). Despite being outnumbered, Judah prevailed against Israel because they relied on the Lord (2 Chronicles 13:13-18).
Abijah expanded his power, taking cities from Jeroboam and growing stronger (2 Chronicles 13:19-21). However, like his father Rehoboam, Abijah did not fully follow the Lord and allowed idolatry to persist in Judah (1 Kings 15:3). He walked in all the sins of his father and did not have a fully devoted heart like his ancestor David (1 Kings 15:3).
Abijah had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters (2 Chronicles 13:21). After his death, his son Asa succeeded him as king (1 Kings 15:8; 2 Chronicles 14:1). Abijah is also mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:7.
All entries for Abijah: אֲבִיָּה ☩ אֲבִיָּם ☩ Ἀβιά