(1) В¶ Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. (2) Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. (3) And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
I stop the Reader in the very opening of Abijam's history, to call his attention to one or two things concerning this man, which merit notice. In the account given of him here he is called Abijam; and he is said to have walked in all the sins of his father. By which I am led to think, that this refers principally to the latter end of his reign. For if the Reader will consult the parallel history concerning him in the Chronicles, he will there discover him as dignified with a more honourable name. He is there called Abijah meaning, My Father is Jehovah; probably in allusion to the victory the Lord gave him over Jeroboam; upon which occasion he ascribed the glory to the Lord. I desire the Reader to consult that part of scripture, and read through his address before the battle. See 2 Chronicles 13:1 to the end.