Lexical Definition
אֲבִיָּה ʼĂbîyâh (ab-ee-yaw') Abijah N:N-M-P
or prolonged אֲבִיָּהוּ ʼĂbîyâhûw (abee-yaw'-hoo) ; from אָב and יָהּ; father (i.e. worshipper) of Jah
Abiah, Abijah.
- § Abia or Abiah or Abijah = "Jehovah is (my) father"
- Abijah, the name of several Israelite men and two Israelitesses
1) king of Judah, son and successor of Rehoboam
2) second son of Samuel
3) son of Jeroboam the first, king of Israel
4) son of Becher, a Benjamite
5) head of a priestly house (one of the 24 Levite groups)
6) head of a priestly house (after the exile)
7) wife of Hezron
8) mother of Hezekiah (cf אֲבִי)
See Greek: Ἀβιά
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.8.2
- son of: Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל)
- brother of: Joel (יוֹאֵל)
- second son of Samuel
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֲבִיָּ֫הוּ proper name, masculine & feminine (Yah(u) is (my) father) — so 2Chr 13:20; 2Chr 13:21 = אֲבִיָּם 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:1; 1Kgs 15:7 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 15:8 (ᵐ5 Ἀβιου, Ἀβια); = אֲבִי 2Kgs 18:2 (ᵐ5 Ἀβου, Ἀβουθ); = אֲבִיָּה 1Sam 8:2 + 22 t. —
1. king of Judah, son & successor of Rehoboam 1Kgs 14:31; 1Kgs 15:1; 1Kgs 15:7 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 15:8; 1Chr 3:10; 2Chr 11:20; 2Chr 11:22; 2Chr 12:16; 2Chr 13:1; 2Chr 13:2; 2Chr 13:3; 2Chr 13:4; 2Chr 13:15; 2Chr 13:17; 2Chr 13:19; 2Chr 13:20; 2Chr 13:21; 2Chr 13:22; 2Chr 13:23*.
2. 2nd son of Samuel 1Sam 8:2; 1Chr 6:13*.
3. son of Jerob. I 1Kgs 14:1.
4. son of Becher, a Benjamite 1Chr 7:8.
5. head of a priestly house 1Chr 24:10.
6. id. Neh 10:8*; Neh 12:4; Neh 12:17.
7. wife of Hezron 1Chr 2:24.
8. mother of Hezekiah 2Kgs 18:2; 2Chr 29:1.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 8:2 |
| 1 Kings | 14:1 · 14:31 · 15:1 · 15:7 · 15:8 |
| 2 Kings | 18:2 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:24 · 3:10 · 6:13* · 7:8 · 24:10 |
| 2 Chronicles | 11:20 · 11:22 · 12:16 · 13:1 · 13:2 · 13:3 · 13:4 · 13:15 · 13:17 · 13:19 · 13:20 · 13:21 · 13:22 · 13:23* · 29:1 |
| Nehemiah | 10:8* · 12:4 · 12:17 |
Profile
Male • Son of Samuel • Son of Samuel, a corrupt judge
Levite living at the time of United Monarchy
Abijah was one of Samuel's sons who served as a judge in Israel but did not follow his father's righteous ways.
- A man from the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.8.2;
- only referred to as Abijah אֲבִיָּה;
- son of Samuel שְׁמוּאֵל;
- a brother of Joel יוֹאֵל.
Abijah was one of the sons of Samuel, the last judge and a prominent prophet in Israel. Along with his brother Joel, Abijah was appointed by Samuel as a judge over Israel in his old age (1 Samuel 8:1-2). However, Abijah and his brother did not walk in the righteous ways of their father. They turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3).
The corrupt behavior of Abijah and Joel led the elders of Israel to demand a king to rule over them, rejecting the leadership of Samuel and his sons (1 Samuel 8:4-5). This event marked the transition from the period of the judges to the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. Abijah is also mentioned in the genealogy of the Levites in 1 Chronicles 6:28, confirming his lineage as a descendant of Levi through Samuel.
All entries for Abijah: אֲבִיָּה