1. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king over Judah.
2. He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.
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.
4. Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty in Jerusalem by giving him a son to succeed him and by protecting Jerusalem.