1Ki 15:1-8 | NET2full | STEP | In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat , Abijah became king over Judah .

1 Kings 15:1-8

Abijah’s Reign over Judah

1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah ^{▼▼tc The Old Greek also has the phrase “the son of Rehoboam.”} became king over Judah. 2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. ^{▼▼sn Abishalom (also in v. 10) is a variant of the name Absalom (cf. 2 Chr 11:20). The more common form is used by TEV, NLT.} 3 He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been. ^{▼▼tn Heb “his heart was not complete with the Lord his God, like the heart of David his father.”} 4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty ^{▼▼tn Heb “gave him a lamp.”} in Jerusalem by giving him a son ^{▼▼tc The Old Greek has the plural “his sons.”} to succeed him ^{▼▼tn Heb “by raising up his son after him.”} and by protecting Jerusalem. ^{▼▼tn Heb “and by causing Jerusalem to stand firm.”} 5 He did this ^{▼▼tn The words “he did this” are added for stylistic reasons.} because David had done what he approved ^{▼▼tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”} and had not disregarded any of his commandments ^{▼▼tn Heb “and had not turned aside from all which he commanded him.”} his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. 6 Rehoboam ^{▼▼tc Most Hebrew mss read “Rehoboam”; a few Hebrew mss and the Syriac read “Abijam” (a variant of Abijah).} and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s ^{▼▼tn Heb “his”; the referent (Abijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} lifetime. 7 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. ^{▼▼tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Abijah, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”} Abijah and Jeroboam had been at war with each other. 8 Abijah passed away ^{▼▼tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” The Old Greek also has these words: “in the twenty-eighth year of Jeroboam.”} and was buried ^{▼▼tn Heb “and they buried him.”} in the City of David. His son Asa replaced him as king.