seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Kings 15:1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah[a] became king of Judah, 2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom.(b)
3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. 5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
6 There was war between Abijah[c] and Jeroboam throughout Abijah’s lifetime. 7 As for the other events of Abijah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Asa his son succeeded him as king.
3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong. 5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.
6 There was war between Abijah[c] and Jeroboam throughout Abijah’s lifetime. 7 As for the other events of Abijah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Asa his son succeeded him as king.
a. 1 Kings 15:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 2 Chron. 12:16); most Hebrew manuscripts Abijam; also in verses 7 and 8
b. 1 Kings 15:2 A variant of Absalom; also in verse 10
c. 1 Kings 15:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Abijam (that is, Abijah); most Hebrew manuscripts Rehoboama.
This interesting tidbit is from GodVine.
The daughter of Abishalom - Absalom seems to have had but one daughter, Tamar 2 Samuel 14:27, so that Maachah must have been, not his daughter, but his grand-daughter. Her father was Uriel of Gibeah whom, therefore, Tamar married. Maachah took her name from her great-grandmother 2 Samuel 3:3.
The idolatry of Abijam deserved the same punishment as that of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14:10-14, of Baasha1 Kings 16:2-4, or of Zimri 1 Kings 16:19, the cutting off of his seed, and the transfer of the crown to another family. That these consequences did not follow in the kingdom of Judah, was owing to the "faithfulness" of David, which brought a blessing on his posterity. Few things are more remarkable and more difficult to account for on mere grounds of human reason, than the stability of the succession in Judah, and its excessive instability in the sister kingdom. One family in Judah holds the throne from first to last, during a space but little short of four centuries, while in Israel there are nine changes of dynasty within two hundred and fifty years.
The idolatry of Abijam deserved the same punishment as that of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14:10-14, of Baasha1 Kings 16:2-4, or of Zimri 1 Kings 16:19, the cutting off of his seed, and the transfer of the crown to another family. That these consequences did not follow in the kingdom of Judah, was owing to the "faithfulness" of David, which brought a blessing on his posterity. Few things are more remarkable and more difficult to account for on mere grounds of human reason, than the stability of the succession in Judah, and its excessive instability in the sister kingdom. One family in Judah holds the throne from first to last, during a space but little short of four centuries, while in Israel there are nine changes of dynasty within two hundred and fifty years.
This is from the easy English site.
Abijam ruled between 913-910 B.C. He was not like David. He did not serve God. But because of David’s love for God, God allowed David’s descendants to continue to rule in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles chapter 13 tells us about the war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam described how the people in Jerusalem still obeyed the Lord. Abijam warned the Israelites about their false gods. He told them that God would support the army from Judah. And he asked the Israelites not to fight against them. Jeroboam did not listen. Jeroboam lost the battle and he did not get his power back.
On that occasion, Abijam did well. He trusted God, and he won the battle. But that was not Abijam’s usual behaviour. He did not continue to be loyal to God.
We cannot be sure about the reason for Abijam’s sin. Perhaps he was like his grandfather Solomon. Solomon began well, but he did not continue to be loyal to God. Like Solomon, Abijam had many wives (2 Chronicles 13:21).
Or perhaps Abijam expected God’s help because he performed all the religious ceremonies. God wants us to trust him completely. Ceremonies are not enough.
2 Chronicles chapter 13 tells us about the war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam described how the people in Jerusalem still obeyed the Lord. Abijam warned the Israelites about their false gods. He told them that God would support the army from Judah. And he asked the Israelites not to fight against them. Jeroboam did not listen. Jeroboam lost the battle and he did not get his power back.
On that occasion, Abijam did well. He trusted God, and he won the battle. But that was not Abijam’s usual behaviour. He did not continue to be loyal to God.
We cannot be sure about the reason for Abijam’s sin. Perhaps he was like his grandfather Solomon. Solomon began well, but he did not continue to be loyal to God. Like Solomon, Abijam had many wives (2 Chronicles 13:21).
Or perhaps Abijam expected God’s help because he performed all the religious ceremonies. God wants us to trust him completely. Ceremonies are not enough.
So nothing changed when Abijah became king. He didn't clear out the temples. Idol worship became "normal". The only reason Abijah [or those who followed]was allowed to be king was David. David had done what he was told most of the time. It is true that David had an affair with Bathsheba and set her husband up to be murdered on the battlefield. It's also true that God took the son that came from that affair. With the exception of the affair and the subsequent death of Uriah, David had shown love and devotion in spite of being hunted down by a crazy man. God made a promise to David... and it was that promise that caused God to allow Abijah and the others in the family remain on the throne of Judah. See, David would have never allowed the temple to be junked up with shining little idols.
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