King Abijah (Judah)

Abijah (called Abijam in Kings), son of Rehoboam and Maacah, reigned three years in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 15:1–8 judges him briefly: he walked in his father's sins, yet for David's sake God kept "a lamp" for his line in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 13 tells of his war with Jeroboam I. Facing an army said to be twice the size of his own, Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim and addressed Israel: God had given the kingship to David "by a covenant of salt", Jeroboam had rebelled, made golden calves and driven out the Levitical priests, while in Jerusalem the true priests still served. Caught in an ambush, Judah cried out, the priests blew the trumpets, and Israel was routed. Abijah captured Bethel, Jeshanah and Ephron, and Jeroboam never regained his strength.

The two books paint different portraits, Kings a disappointing heir, Chronicles a champion of the Davidic dynasty and the Temple, and Chronicles cites "the midrash of the prophet Iddo" for his story. He had 14 wives, 22 sons and 16 daughters (2 Chronicles 13:21), and was succeeded by his son Asa.