1. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jer o boam (Nebat’s son), Abijam began to rule Judah.
2. He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Maacah, daughter of Abishalom.
3. He followed the sinful example his father had set and wasn’t committed to the Lord his God as his ancestor David had been.
4. But for David’s sake the Lord his God made Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem. He appointed David’s descendant to rule after him and protected Jerusalem.
5. The Lord did this because David did what the Lord considered right: David never failed to do anything the Lord commanded him to do his entire life (except in the matter concerning Uriah the Hittite).
6. There was war between Abijam and Rehoboam throughout their lives.
7. Isn’t everything else about Abijam—everything he did—written in the official records of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jer o boam.
8. Abijam lay down in death with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king.
9. In Jer o boam’s twentieth year as king of Israel, Asa began to rule as king of Judah.