'my father is Yam'; Biblical Greek: Αβιού, romanized: Aviou; Latin: Abiam)[1] was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the fourth king of the House of David and the second of the Kingdom of Judah.

Some scholars believe the biblical accounts of Abijam's family to be contradictory;[6] however, a study of Hebrew linguistics may remove any seeming contradictions.

12:16; 13:1, 2) with a strenuous but unsuccessful effort to bring back the ten tribes of the northern Kingdom of Israel to their allegiance, [13] a path which in 2 Chronicles 11:4 his father had chosen not to follow.

[12] Abijah rallied his troops there and went on to capture the Israelite cities of Jeshanah, Ephron (now Taybeh, Ramallah), and Bethel.

[12] Non-conformist minister Alexander Maclaren considers Abijah "a wiser and better man than his father".

[17] Thus the unconditional covenant blessing of God guaranteed his promise to King David to stabilize the kingdom despite its ruler.

[18] Although Abijah took up God's cause against Jeroboam, the idolatrous king of Israel, he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his victory over the latter for any considerable time, dying as he did shortly after his campaign (Josephus, "Ant."

The rabbis recount many transgressions committed by Abijah against his fellow men, drawing God's vengeance upon him more speedily than upon Jeroboam's idolatries.

The rabbis also point out that it was improper for Abijah to accuse the whole of Israel of idolatry and to proclaim the appointment of Jeroboam as king to have been the work of "vain men, the children of Belial" (II Chron.