1. Abijam became king of Judah. This was during the eighteenth year Jeroboam son of Nebat ruled Israel.
2. And Abijam ruled in Jerusalem for three years. His mother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
3. He did all the same sins his father before him had done. Abijam was not faithful to the Lord his God. In this way he was not like David, his great-grandfather.
4. Because the Lord had loved David, the Lord gave Abijam a kingdom in Jerusalem. And the Lord allowed him to have a son to be king after him. The Lord also kept Jerusalem safe.