
Abijah of Judah (994-955 BC) was King of Judah from 958 to 955 BC, succeeding Rehoboam and preceding Asa.
Biography[]
Abijah was the son of King Rehoboam of Judah and Maacah (daughter of Absalom), and he succeeded his father as King of Judah in 958 BC. Abijah was said to have committed all the sins his father had done before him, as his heart was not fully devoted to God, though - for David's sake - God gave Abijah a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and making Jerusalem strong. Abijah attempted to reunify the Jewish kingdoms by conquering Israel, and he defeated the Israelites at the bloody Battle of Mount Zemaraim in 957 BC before capturing Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron. He died two years later and was succeeded by Asa of Judah.