Abijam's Short Reign in Judah
1 Kings 15:1-8
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1 K.15.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובשנת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- שמנה: NUM,card,f,pl,abs
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- למלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירבעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אבים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 13:1 (verbal): Chronicles gives an almost identical dating formula: “In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam... Abijah became king of Judah,” a direct parallel account of the same succession.
- 1 Kings 15:2 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same narrative about Abijam (Abijah), providing length of reign and maternal details—part of the same pericope.
- 1 Kings 14:31 (structural): Earlier Kings verse noting Rehoboam’s death and that “Abijah his son reigned in his stead,” linking the dynastic succession that 15:1 dates.
- 2 Chronicles 12:16 (structural): Parallel Chronicles passage reporting Rehoboam’s death and Abijah’s succession, corresponding to the Kings account of the transfer of power.
- 1 Kings 11:26 (allusion): Earlier introduction of Jeroboam son of Nebat (the northern king used as the dating reference), connecting the dating formula in 15:1 to Jeroboam’s established identity and role.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king over Judah.
- In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king over Judah.
1 K.15.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שלש: NUM,card,f,sg
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מעכה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- אבישלום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 13:2 (verbal): Direct parallel account of Abijam/Abijah: repeats the reign length (“three years in Jerusalem”) and gives the mother’s name as Maachah daughter of Abishalom.
- 1 Kings 15:13 (thematic): Later reference to Maachah (the same royal Maachah) being removed from the office of queen mother—connects the identification of the king’s mother in 15:2 with her later fate and role in court politics.
- 2 Chronicles 15:16 (thematic): Chronicles explicitly describes Asa removing his grandmother Maachah from the queen-mother position for idol-worship, linking the Maachah named in 1 Kgs 15:2 to her later deposition and showing the familial continuity.
- 2 Samuel 14:27 (allusion): Mentions Absalom (Heb. Abishalom) and his offspring—provides background for the designation “daughter of Abishalom,” alluding to the Davidic/Absalom line to which Maachah is being connected.
Alternative generated candidates
- He reigned three years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
- He reigned three years in Jerusalem; the name of his mother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
1 K.15.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חטאות: NOUN,f,pl,const
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לבבו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- שלם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- עם: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- כלבב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1Kgs.11.4 (verbal): Almost identical wording: Solomon’s heart was turned away and 'was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father' — a direct verbal parallel about a king’s lack of wholehearted devotion to YHWH.
- 1Kgs.14.22 (thematic): Rehoboam/Judah are charged with doing evil and following the sinful practices of their predecessors — a recurrent Kings‑theme of a ruler 'walking in the sins of his father' and failing to follow David’s example.
- 2Chr.12.14 (thematic): Of Rehoboam: 'he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the LORD' — similar theological judgment stressing a king’s failure of wholehearted seeking/devotion to YHWH.
- Ps.78.72 (thematic): David is praised for shepherding Israel 'with integrity of heart' — this verse provides the positive ideal (David’s wholehearted heart) against which the criticized kings are measured.
Alternative generated candidates
- He walked in all the sins of his father that he had done before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
- He walked in all the sins of his father that he had practiced before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of David his father.
1 K.15.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- למען: PREP
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ניר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- להקים: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- אחריו: PREP,3,m,sg
- ולהעמיד: CONJ+VERB,hif,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (verbal): God promises David that he will raise up his offspring and establish his kingdom/house and throne—direct source for the language of setting up a son and establishing Jerusalem.
- 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 (quotation): Parallel retelling of the divine promise to David about a son and an enduring throne/house—closely echoes the same covenant material.
- Psalm 132:17 (verbal): Uses the image of a ‘lamp’ prepared for God’s anointed/Davidic line in Zion, echoing the ‘lamp in Jerusalem’ motif of the verse.
- Jeremiah 33:17-21 (thematic): Affirms that David will always have a descendant to sit on the throne and ties the Davidic line to the fortunes of Jerusalem—thematic continuation of the promise in 1 Kgs 15:4.
- Psalm 89:3-4 (allusion): Speaks of God’s sworn covenant to David to establish his offspring and throne for all generations—an allusion to the same Davidic promise referenced in 1 Kgs 15:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- But for David's sake the LORD his God had given him a lamp in Jerusalem—to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem.
- For the LORD his God had given him a lamp in Jerusalem, for David's sake, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem.
1 K.15.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הישר: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- סר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מכל: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צוהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+OBJ:3,m,sg
- כל: DET
- ימי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- חייו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- רק: PRT
- בדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אוריה: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- החתי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25 (quotation): The narrative account of David's adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah — this episode is the specific 'matter of Uriah the Hittite' that is cited as the sole exception to David's obedience.
- Psalm 51 (thematic): David's penitential psalm written after Nathan's rebuke; directly related to his sin with Uriah and expresses his repentance for that failing despite his overall devotion to God.
- 1 Kings 11:4 (thematic): Contrasts Solomon's heart turning away from the LORD with the heart of David, who 'had been wholly true' to God — highlights David's general fidelity (except the Uriah incident) as a standard.
- 2 Samuel 7:18-29 (thematic): David's prayer of humility and thanksgiving following God's covenant promise — reflects David's faithful relationship with Yahweh that 1 Kgs 15:5 summarizes.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (verbal): David's exhortation to Solomon to 'serve the LORD with a whole heart' and the language of wholehearted devotion echo the claim that David 'did what was right before the LORD' and 'did not turn aside' (with the noted exception).
Alternative generated candidates
- For David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and he did not turn aside from anything that the LORD commanded him all his days, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
- David did what was right in the sight of the LORD and did not turn aside from all that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
1 K.15.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומלחמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- היתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בין: PREP
- רחבעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- ירבעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- ימי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- חייו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 13:1-12 (quotation): Gives the extended account of the military clash between Abijah (son of Rehoboam) and Jeroboam of Israel — a direct narrative parallel to the ongoing hostilities summarized in 1 Kgs 15:6.
- 1 Kings 12:21-24 (thematic): Describes Rehoboam's strengthening of Judah and Jeroboam's establishment of the northern kingdom — background context for the persistent enmity between the two houses.
- 2 Chronicles 11:4-12 (structural): Records Rehoboam's fortification of cities and the migration of priests/Levites to Judah, illustrating the institutional and territorial separation that fuels continual conflict with Jeroboam's Israel.
- 1 Kings 14:30 (verbal): Contains a similar statement about perpetual warfare between the successors of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, echoing the same observation about long‑standing hostilities between the two kingdoms.
Alternative generated candidates
- And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
- And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
1 K.15.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- אבים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הלוא: PART
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- כתובים: VERB,pual,ptcp,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- למלכי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ומלחמה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- היתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בין: PREP
- אבים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- ירבעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 13:1 (thematic): Gives the same historical context—Abijah (Abijam) begins to reign and has war with Jeroboam, echoing the mention of conflict in 1 Kgs 15:7.
- 2 Chronicles 13:22 (quotation): Uses the same closing/editorial formula about 'the rest of the acts' being recorded in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah, parallel to 1 Kgs 15:7.
- 1 Kings 14:29 (structural): Another royal summary formula in Kings: 'the rest of the acts... are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah,' showing the repeated editorial citation found in 1 Kgs 15:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- And concerning the rest of the acts of Abijah, and all that he did—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
- Now the rest of the acts of Abijah and all that he did—are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
1 K.15.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישכב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אבים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- אבתיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3s
- ויקברו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Chr.13:20 (verbal): Direct parallel account of Abijah's death and burial and the succession of Asa; wording closely mirrors 1 Kgs 15:8.
- 1 Kgs.2:10 (verbal): Formulaic report: 'slept with his fathers' and burial in the city of David, followed by the son's succession (Solomon); same royal death formula.
- 1 Kgs.11:43 (verbal): Solomon 'slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead'—nearly identical phrasing and succession motif.
- 1 Kgs.14:20 (verbal): Rehoboam's death and burial in the city of David and the succession of his son Abijah — same formulaic wording and structural parallel.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place.
- And Abijah slept with his fathers; they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his place.
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat of Israel, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and the name of his mother was Maachah the daughter of Abishalom.
He walked in all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
Nevertheless, for the sake of David the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up the son of David after him and to establish Jerusalem.
For David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. And there was war continually between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
Abijah slept with his fathers; they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his place.