He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. The same as Maachah (see the note at 1 Kings 15:2). She was "the daughter" - i:e., grand-daughter of Absalom (1 Kings 15:2: cf. 2 Samuel 14:1-33), mother of Abijah, and "mother" - i:e., grandmother (1 Kings 15:10, margin) - of Asa. "Of Gibeah" probably implies that Uriel was connected with the house of Saul.
There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. The occasion of this war is not recorded (see 1 Kings 15:6-7); but it may be inferred from the tenor Abijah's address, that it arose from Jeroboam's design to wrest from his youthful neighbour the full dominion of the whole country. No prophet now forbade a war with Israel (2 Chronicles 11:23), because Jeroboam had forfeited all claim to protection.