Topical Encyclopedia
Name Meaning: The name "Abijam" is derived from Hebrew, meaning "father of the sea" or "my father is the sea." In some biblical texts, he is also referred to as "Abijah," which means "Yahweh is my father."
Biblical References: Abijam is mentioned in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. His reign is primarily detailed in
1 Kings 15:1-8 and
2 Chronicles 13:1-22.
Historical Context: Abijam was the son of Rehoboam and the grandson of Solomon. He was the second king of the southern kingdom of Judah, following the division of the united monarchy of Israel after Solomon's reign. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.
Reign: Abijam reigned over Judah for three years, from approximately 913 to 911 BC. His reign is characterized by a continuation of the practices of his father, Rehoboam, and he is noted for not fully committing to the ways of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done.
Biblical Account:1.
1 Kings 15:1-8 : The account in 1 Kings describes Abijam's reign as one that did not fully align with the ways of the Lord. "He walked in all the sins his father had committed before him, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of his forefather David had been" (
1 Kings 15:3). Despite this, for David's sake, the Lord allowed his lineage to continue.
2.
2 Chronicles 13:1-22 : The Chronicles account provides a more detailed narrative of Abijam's reign, including a significant battle against Jeroboam, the king of Israel. Abijam addressed the armies of Israel, asserting the legitimacy of David's dynasty and the covenant with the Lord. "But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him" (
2 Chronicles 13:10). The Lord granted him victory over Jeroboam, which is seen as a divine endorsement of his rule despite his personal failings.
Religious Practices: Abijam's reign was marked by the continuation of idolatrous practices initiated by his father. The high places were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
Legacy: Abijam's reign was short and is often overshadowed by the more extensive and reformative reign of his son, Asa, who succeeded him. Despite his shortcomings, Abijam's victory over Jeroboam and the preservation of the Davidic line are significant aspects of his legacy.
Family: Abijam was succeeded by his son Asa, who became one of the more notable kings of Judah due to his religious reforms and efforts to return the nation to the worship of Yahweh.
Significance: Abijam's reign is a reminder of the complexities of the kings of Judah, who often struggled between the influences of idolatry and the covenantal promises made to David. His account is a testament to the enduring mercy of God towards the house of David, despite the failings of its members.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Abijamfather of the sea
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Abijam[ABIA, ABIAH, OR ABIJAH,ABIJAH OR ABIJAM, 1]
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Father of the sea; i.e., "seaman" the name always used in Kings of the king of Judah, the son of Rehoboam, elsewhere called Abijah (
1 Kings 15:1, 7, 8). (see
ABIJAH.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABIJAMa-bi'-jam ('abhiyam, "father of sea," or, "father of west"). The name given in Kings (1 Kings 14:31;1 Kings 15:1, 7, 8) to the son of Rehoboam who succeeded him as king of Judah. SeeABIJAH.
The name has puzzled scholars. Some have proposed, by adding one letter, to change it into "father of his people." Others have observed that the Greek rendering in Kings is Abeiou. Either the Hebrew copy used by the Greek translator read 'abhiyahu, Abijah, or else the translator substituted the form of the name which was to him more familiar. A few existing copies of the Hebrew have the reading Abijah, andMatthew 1:7 presupposes that as the Old Testament reading. So they infer that Abijam in Ki is an erroneous reading for Abijah. This seems at present to be the prevailing view, and it is plausible. It would be more convincing, however, if the name occurred but once in the passage in Kings, instead of occurring five times. It is improbable that a scribe would repeat the same error five times within a few sentences, while a translator, if he changed the name once, would of course change it the other four times.
Exploration has revealed the fact that the whole region near the eastern end of the Mediterranean was known as "the west." "Father of the west" is not an inapt name for Rehoboam to give to the boy who, he expects, will inherit the kingdom of Solomon and David. The effect of the secession of the ten tribes was to make that name a burlesque, and one does not wonder that it was superseded by Abijah, "My father is Yahweh."
Willis J. Beecher
Strong's Hebrew
38. Abiyyam -- "father of (the) sea," an Israelite name... "father of (the) sea," an Israelite name. Transliteration: Abiyyam Phonetic Spelling:
(ab-ee-yawm') Short Definition:
Abijam.
... name NASB Word Usage
Abijam (5).
...Library
And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
... Shemaiah "And Judah did "Natural " " " " " that which was " " " " " evil in the " " "
" " sight of Jehovah" " " " " 2.Abijam "Evil "Son "None...
Miller's views on the Second Coming of Christ.
... 40 3091 1066 Acts 13:21.2. David 40 3131 1026 2 Samuel 5:4.3. Solomon 40 3171 986
1 Kings 11:42.4. Rehoboam 17 3188 969 2 Chronicles 12:13.5.Abijam 3 3191 966...
The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the...
... and prophesied against the altar. After him his sonAbijam, twenty-three
years; and likewise his son Asaman. [2047] The last, in...
The Book of Enoch
... as in St. Matthew, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah), consists of fourteen
generations fromAbijam to Salathiel. The seventh, taking...
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <....
Thesaurus
Abijam (4 Occurrences)...ABIJAM. a-bi'-jam ('abhiyam, "father of sea," or, "father of west").
... So they
infer that
Abijam in Ki is an erroneous reading for Abijah.
...Abi'jam (4 Occurrences)
Abi'jam.Abijam, Abi'jam. Abi-keilah . Multi-Version Concordance Abi'jam (4
Occurrences).... AndAbijam his son reigned in his stead. (See RSV)....
Abijah (32 Occurrences)
... He is also calledAbijam (1 Kings 14:31; 15:1-8). He began his three years' reign
(2 Chronicles 12:16; 13:1, 2) with a strenuous but unsuccessful effort to...
Abijah's (3 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 1 Kings 15:7 And the rest of the acts ofAbijam, and all that he did,
are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?...
Jerobo'am (92 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began
Abijam to reign over Judah.... And there was war betweenAbijam and Jeroboam....
Maachah (19 Occurrences)
... (4.) The daughter of Abishalom (called Absalom, 2 Chronicles 11:20-22), the third
wife of Rehoboam, and mother ofAbijam (1 Kings 15:2). She is called...
Annals (41 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 1 Kings 15:7 The rest of the acts ofAbijam, and all that he did,
aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?...
Succeeded (81 Occurrences)
... was Naamah the Ammonitess.Abijam his son reigned in his place. (See NIV).
1 Kings 15:8Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried...
Reigned (206 Occurrences)
...Abijam his son reigned in his place.... 1 Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king
Jeroboam the son of Nebat reignedAbijam over Judah. (KJV WBS YLT)....
Rested (81 Occurrences)
... Naamah, an Ammonite woman. AndAbijam his son became king in his place.
(See NIV). 1 Kings 15:8 ThenAbijam went to rest with his...
Resources
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