Abijah: The King of Judah

**Waqar Daniel** Thu 19 Jul 2007, 8:18 pm

Also known as [/B

Abijam

[B]Reference[/B

I Kings 14:31 - 15:8
II Chronicles 13:1 - 14:1

[B]Reign[/B

3 years

[B]History

Abijah, Rehoboam's son, became king in place of his father. Of note in his three-year reign was his encounter on the battlefield with Jeroboam. Before the battle began, Abijah tired to stave it off with words. "Ought ye not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his ons by a covenant of salt? And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David? (II Chronicles 13:5,8).

Though Abijah sounded regal and like a true man of God, he was no more than a resounding gong, because he did not worship the Lord. Like many uncommitted Christians today, Abijah simply called upon God during a time of need. Meanwhile, as our key verse indicates, while Abijah was orating, Jeroboam's army surrounded him in an ambush. Eventually, the Lord gave Abijah the victory, but only to preserve the promise made to King David.