And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
Made Abijah ... chief ... ruler among his brethren. This preference seems to have been given to Abijah solely from the king's doting fondness for his mother, and through her influence over him. It is plainly implied that Abijah was not the oldest of the family; and in destining a younger son for the kingdom, without a divine warrant, as in Solomon's case, Rehoboam acted in violation of the law (Deuteronomy 21:15).