1 Abijam became king of Judah in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Nebat’s son.
2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah, and she was Abishalom’s daughter.
3 Abijam followed all the sinful ways of his father before him. He didn’t follow the Lord his God with all his heart like his ancestor David.
4 Even so, on account of David, the Lord his God gave Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem by supporting his son who succeeded him and by preserving Jerusalem.