Abijah was the son of Rehoboam and he reigned over Judah for just three years. His mother, Micaiah, is the granddaughter of Absalom, Maacah (2 Chron 11:20).
War that was waged between Abijah and Jereboam and it must have been epic; the incredible numbers of men in battle formation made for a battle of biblical proportions. Mount Zemaraim is about 15 miles north of Jerusalem in Ephraim. Abijah declares the promises of the Davidic covenant to Jereboam; in essence accusing them of rejecting God's appointed ruler. A covenant of salt may have been symbolic of a lasting covenant, permanent and pure since salt was the main preservative and used in sacrifices (Num 18:19).
In contrast, the Chronicler tells of Jereboam's rebellion abainst the Lord. In his rebellion, the worthless rogues of the nation flocked to him. Rehobaom was still young and militarily weak. The accusation against the norther tribe is not just division and rebellion against the Lord's anointed but also idolatry. They had set up golden calvees and formed their own means of worship. The Levitical priesthood had been abandoned; now, anyone with a the sacrificed could become a priest to worhip their gods. And Abijah makes the poiont that the object of their woship isn't a god at all; while Judah served the Lord their God. Abijah encouraged them to give up the fight because God was on their side and they shouldn't fight against God.
Jereboam tried to surround Abijah's army; when it was discovered they cried out to God. The Lord struck the army of Israel before Abijah or Judah did. This seems to be some sort of supernatural intervention on the Lord's part. Judah's victory was because they relied on the Lord. Abijah took some of the cities and land from Israel that were never recovered in Jereboam's days.
Abijah seemed to follow the Lord. He did a lot in just three years as king.
©2017 Doug Ford
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