1. Abijah became the new king of Judah during the 18th year that Jeroboam son of Nebat ruled Israel.
2. Abijah ruled in Jerusalem for three years. His mother’s name was Maacah. She was Absalom’s daughter.
3. He did all the same sins that his father before him had done. Abijah was not faithful to the Lord his God. In this way he was not like his grandfather, David.
4. But for David’s sake, the Lord gave Abijah a kingdom in Jerusalem and allowed him to have a son. He also kept Jerusalem safe.
5. David had always done what the Lord said was right. He had always obeyed his commands. The only time David did not obey the Lord was when he sinned against Uriah the Hittite.