Abijah: the Hypocritical King
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K I N G S O F J U D A H ABIJAH: THE HYPOCRITICAL KING (1 Kings 15:1–8; 2 Chronicles 13) The second king to rule Judah after the Abijah led an army of 400,000 valiant men to division of the northern kingdom (Israel) from fight against the northern kingdom. In spite of the southern kingdom (Judah) was Abijah their large number, Abijah’s forces were out- (1 Kings 15:1–8; 2 Chronicles 13). After the death numbered two to one (v. 3). of his father, Rehoboam, Abijah1 (or Abijam; We are unsure why Abijah chose to attack. see 1 Kings 14:31) ascended to the throne. The We can assume it had to do with the hostility Bible seemingly portrays Abijah as a righteous, between his father and Jeroboam. Whatever his faithful, and godly man, unlike his father (see reasons, his mighty army moved toward the 2 Chronicles 12:14). territory of Israel and camped in close proximity As a precursor to war, Abijah stood on a to Mount Zemaraim, east of Bethel. At this loca- mountain in Ephraim and preached to the people tion, Abijah preached to Jeroboam and his troops. of Israel. He began by saying, “Listen to me, Abijah presented a four-point sermon in hope Jeroboam and all Israel” (2 Chronicles 13:4). He of persuading the armies of Israel to surrender spoke of their idolatry and their disregard for the voluntarily (vv. 4–12). First, he defended the laws concerning the priests. He then claimed right of David’s house to rule Israel (v. 5; see that Judah was abiding by God’s laws: “But as 1 Kings 15:4, 5; 2 Samuel 7:16, 17). Second, he for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not belittled Jeroboam and made accusations against forsaken Him . .” (2 Chronicles 13:10, 11). the “worthless men” who aided in his rebellion On the surface, Abijah appears righteous and (vv. 6, 7). Third, he rebuked the calf-worship that his words seem accurate. Many have been mis- Jeroboam had established (vv. 8, 9). Fourth, he led because he sounds like a godly king. How- warned Israel that if they fought against God’s ever, a more thorough study of the king reveals true worshipers, they would be warring against that this apparent godliness was false. In truth, God. It would be impossible for them to succeed he was a hypocrite. Abijah outwardly professed (vv. 10–12; see Numbers 10:9). a godliness that he did not inwardly possess. At first, Abijah’s sermon seems to have been the right thing for him to say. Was he correct ABIJAH’S SERMON when he declared that David’s house had the (2 CHRONICLES 13:1–12) right to rule all of Israel? No, because this was a Before Abijah took the throne, hostilities ex- half-truth. God had promised David that He isted between the two dynasties of Rehoboam would not allow the rule to leave his house and Jeroboam. These hostilities climaxed as (1 Kings 15:4, 5; 2 Chronicles 21:7), but God also instituted the division of the kingdom. He sent two prophets to enforce the division (1 Kings 1Others named “Abijah” are mentioned in the Bible, including a son of King Jeroboam of Israel (1 Kings 14:1) 11:29–40; 12:21–24). and King Hezekiah’s mother (2 Chronicles 29:1). Was Abijah right when he said that Jero- 1 boam and his scoundrels wrongfully conspired tegically sent a large number of his troops to against his father, Rehoboam? No, because this ambush Abijah from the south (vv. 13, 14a). was a falsehood. Actually, several falsehoods are Being vastly surrounded by the larger number, found in this statement. It was God who ap- the men of Judah cried desperately to the Lord. pointed Jeroboam as king (1 Kings 11:37–39), The priests also blew their trumpets. As a result, and it was Rehoboam who inadvertently forced God intervened on Judah’s behalf. Judah went to the northern tribes to rebel because of his unrea- war and gained the victory by the hand of God sonable burden upon the people (1 Kings 12:6– (vv. 14b–19). 20). Further, Jeroboam’s scoundrels were lead- The conquest had three results. (1) Israel ers of the northern tribes who had previously was greatly wounded by the death of 500,000 come to Shechem to declare their allegiance to soldiers. (2) Judah expanded to the north by Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1). Abijah’s claim that his taking Bethel (the southern center of calf-wor- father was wrongfully treated at a young and ship), Jeshanah, and Ephron. (3) Jeroboam was tender age was as false as Rehoboam’s “golden” weakened to the point of no return. Abijah and shields (see 2 Chronicles 12:9–12). Rehoboam Judah were indeed victorious. Verse 18b con- was forty-one years old when he ascended to the tains an important thought. It reads, “The sons throne (2 Chronicles 12:13); he was not a young of Judah conquered because they trusted in the and tenderhearted boy. LORD.” Was Abijah right when he rebuked the Why did God give Abijah victory over armies of Israel for worshiping calves? Nothing Jeroboam if he was hypocritical? This question was wrong with the rebuke itself, but it was has four answers. One is that Judah cried to God hypocritical. Israel had worship centers in Dan for help (2 Chronicles 13:14, 15). A similar situa- and Bethel dedicated to golden calves. Jeroboam tion occurred when God disrupted Shishak’s had established the religion from his own advances against Jerusalem because of the heart, made himself high priest, and allowed temporary humility of Rehoboam and Judah foreigners to serve as priests. However, Abijah (2 Chronicles 12:5–8). The author of 2 Chronicles was wrong in condemning a practice similar to withdrew attention from Abijah and focused on what he tolerated in his own country. Judah and God. Another answer is that Judah Was Abijah right to declare that God would fought faithfully, trusting God to give them the give Judah the victory? No, because this was an victory (2 Chronicles 13:16–19). Further, Jero- ignorant declaration. God gave Judah the victory boam was wicked and his power needed to be as Abijah had claimed, but the claim itself had weakened. Though it is not God’s will to reward no validity because it came from the mouth of a the lesser of two evils, God chose an opportunity godless individual. His declaration of impend- to humble the reign of a terrible king. Finally, ing victory was a matter of ignorance, not of God had promised David that he would not lack faith. a man on the throne of Israel (1 Kings 9:5). There Abijah was trying to use God’s promises, was a greater reason for sustaining Judah than commands, and power to promote his own po- for Abijah’s sake—the ancestral line to the King- litical agendas. Perhaps, with victory, Abijah ship of Jesus Christ. hoped to be known as the king who had ex- panded Judah and brought to ruin the dynasty of INDICATIONS OF ABIJAH’S SIN Jeroboam. Maybe he would be a war hero, con- Upon closer examination of 1 Kings 15:1–8, quering an army twice the size of his own and the true character of Abijah (Abijam) is exposed. bringing power back to his father’s house. What- Verse 3 reads, “He walked in all the sins of his ever his plan was, it certainly was not the com- father which he had committed before him; and plete will of God. God provided victory, but not his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his for the reasons given by this hypocritical king. God, like the heart of his father David.” Abijah’s behavior is described as being like the behavior ABIJAH’S VICTORY of his sinful father, Rehoboam, instead of right- (2 CHRONICLES 13:13–19) eous David. This gives some insight into the While Abijah was preaching, Jeroboam stra- godless heart of the king. 2 According to 2 Chronicles, Abijah’s father, Abijah continued to sin in the ways of his Rehoboam, “did not set his heart to seek the father and mother. The results of his kingship LORD” (12:14). He tolerated and condoned the made it impossible for his son Asa to return sinful practices of idolatry and homosexuality in Israel to her monotheistic status (2 Kings 15:14). Judah (1 Kings 14:22–24). Abijah is characterized by the same sins. His heart was not set on pleas- A LESSON FOR US ing the Lord. He tolerated evil. What a powerful lesson the life of Abijah In 1 Kings 15:2, 13, Abijah’s mother, Maacah provides! His example should cause us to search the daughter of Abishalom, is said to have our souls. Are we righteous on the surface but held the rank of “queen” or “queen mother.” rotten inside? Do we sound good in our religious She introduced a horrible wooden image as an discussions yet fail to exemplify the truths of Asherah for idol worship (1 Kings 15:13). The God in our day-to-day lives? How would our fact that Maacah continued in her role even lives be summarized? into the reign of Asa, Abijah’s son and succes- Abijah overlooked his own character flaws as sor, indicates that Abijah tolerated idolatry he passed judgment on the people of Israel.