Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. That is, began to reign; and by this it appears that Rehoboam was in the eighteenth year of his reign when he died, for he and Jeroboam began their reign at the same time. read more
Three years reigned he in Jerusalem ,.... And three only; his reign was short, and indeed not three full years, only one whole year and part of two others; for Asa his son began to reign in the twentieth of Jeroboam, 1 Kings 15:9 so that he reigned part of his eighteenth, this whole nineteenth, and part of his twentieth: and his mother's name was Maachah the daughter of Abishalom ; called Absalom, 2 Chronicles 11:20 , generally supposed by the Jews to be Absalom the son of David, and... read more
Reigned Abijam over Judah - Of this son of Rehoboam, of his brethren, and of Rehoboam's family in general, see 2 Chronicles 12, where many particulars are added. read more
EXPOSITION THE REIGNS OF ABIJAM AND ASA , KINGS OF JUDAH . The Reign of Abijam . Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, reigned Abijam [see note on 1 Kings 14:31 . It is implied in 2 Chronicles 11:20-22 that he was not the firstborn among Rehoboam's twenty-eight sons, but the eldest son of the favourite wife. As he left behind him thirty-eight children ( 2 Chronicles 13:21 ) at his decease, some three years later, he must have... read more
The succession of Abijam to the throne of Judah appears to have had one limiting principle, viz; that the successor should be of the house and lineage of David (see 2 Chronicles 13:8 ). Within this limit it seems— I. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE WILL OF THE REIGNING KING . 1 . The principle of primogeniture was not considered . 2 . Abijam represented Rehoboam by walking in his sins . II. THE CHOICE OF REHOBOAM HAD THE DIVINE SANCTION ( ... read more
Beloved for the father's sake. I. THE STORY OF A MISUSED OPPORTUNITY . Even in a three years' reign much might have been done. Israel had its troubles, the past its lessons of wisdom; but there was no ear to hear the one, and no heart to attempt redress of the other. 1 . The secret of failure . 2 . The sinful was also a troubled reign : "there was war, " etc; and it was war with brethren. 3 . The opportunity was soon ended : "he reigned three years."... read more
Three years [The Alex. LXX . says δεκὰεξ , sixteen . The" three years" are not to be interpreted strictly. As he ascended the throne in the eighteenth and died in the twentieth year of Jeroboam's reign, he cannot have completed three years. But it does not follow that "he cannot have reigned much more than two years" (Rawlinson, and similarly Keil). He may have reigned all but three] reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah [in 2 Chronicles 13:2 called ... read more
Three years - More strictly, not much more than two years (compare 1 Kings 15:1, 1 Kings 15:9). Any part of a year may, however, in Jewish reckoning, be taken as a year.His mother’s name was Maachah - Or Michaiah, according to the present reading of marginal reference.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 (see the margin) was Uriel of Gibeah whom,... read more
1 Kings 15:1-2. Reigned Abijam over Judah So his reign began with Jeroboam’s eighteenth year, continued his whole nineteenth year, and ended within his twentieth year, in which also Asa’s reign began; and thus one and the same year may be attributed to two several persons. Three years reigned he, &c. That is, part of three years. The daughter of Abishalom Or, of Absalom, as he is called 2 Chronicles 11:21; and because he is here mentioned as a known person, without any addition of... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 15:1-8
We have here a short account of the short reign of Abijam the son of Rehoboam king of Judah. He makes a better figure, 2 Chron. 13:1-22, where we have an account of his war with Jeroboam, the speech which he made before the armies engaged, and the wonderful victory he obtained by the help of God. There he is called Abijah?My father is the Lord, because no wickedness is there laid to his charge. But here, where we are told of his faults, Jah, the name of God, is, in disgrace to him, taken away... read more