1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jer o boam (Nebat’s son), Abijam began to rule Judah.
2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Maacah, daughter of Abishalom.
3 He followed the sinful example his father had set and wasn’t committed to the Lord his God as his ancestor David had been.
4 But for David’s sake the Lord his God made Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem. He appointed David’s descendant to rule after him and protected Jerusalem.
5 The Lord did this because David did what the Lord considered right: David never failed to do anything the Lord commanded him to do his entire life (except in the matter concerning Uriah the Hittite).
6 There was war between Abijam and Rehoboam throughout their lives.