a-bi'-ja ('abhiyah or 'abhiyahu (2?Chronicles 13:20,21), "my
father is Yahweh," or "Yahweh is father"):     1. The seventh
son of Becher the son of Benjamin (1?Chronicles 7:8).    2. The
second son of the prophet Samuel (1?Samuel 8:2; 1?Chronicles
6:28).    3. The eighth among "the holy captains and captains of
God" appointed by lot by David in connection with the priestly
courses (1?Chronicles 24:10). Compare "Zacharias of the course
of Abijah" (Luke 1:5).    4. A son of Jeroboam I of Israel
(1?Kings 14:1-18). The narrative describes his sickness and his
mother's visit to the prophet Ahijah. He is spoken of as the one
member of the house of Jeroboam in whom there was "found some
good thing toward Yahweh." With his death the hope of the
dynasty perished.    5. The son and successor of Rehoboam king
of Judah (1?Chronicles 3:10; 2?Chronicles 11:20-14:1). As to the
variant name Abijam (1?Kings 14:31; 15:1,7,8) see ABIJAM.
The statements concerning Abijah's mother afford great
opportunity for a person who is