Abijam King of Judah

2022-05-03

King Abijam (or Abijah) walked in the sins of his father Rehoboam. However, during a battle with Jeroboam, he exhibited faith and the Lord heard his cry.

Abijam had 400,000 men to Jeroboam’s 800,000. As the king stood on Mount Zemaraim, he gave a very politicized speech, emphasizing Jeroboam’s servanthood to Solomon, and the Davidic covenant, though he did not acknowledge that the schism was from the Lord. He brought up the idolatry of Jeroboam and his deposing of the Levites, while claiming his own righteousness.

Nonetheless, Jeroboam’s men ambushed the men of Judah during his speech. Because of their helplessness, Judah called to God, and they were delivered: “Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand. And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men” (2 Chronicles 13:15-17). This was a miracle because Israel lost 500,000 men, being a superior force to that of Judah.

Abijam recovered cities from Israel for Judah, and this battle was the beginning of Jeroboam’s downfall.

This is a part of the Kings of Judah series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.