ABIJAH [a BUY jah] (the Lord is my Father) — the name of eight people in the Old Testament:

1. A son of Jeroboam who died in youth, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Abijah (1 Kin. 14:1–18).

2. The wife of Hezron, a man of the tribe of Judah (1 Chr. 2:24).

3. A descendant of Benjamin (or perhaps of Zebulun) through Becher (1 Chr. 7:8).

4. A descendant of Aaron, who was a priest in the time of David (1 Chr. 24:10).

5. A king of Judah and son of Rehoboam and Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom (2 Chr. 11:20, 22). Also see ABIJAM.

6. The mother of Hezekiah, king of Judah (2 Chr. 29:1). Abijah is also called Abi (2 Kin. 18:2).

7. A priest who signed Nehemiah's covenant (Neh. 10:7).

8. A priest who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Neh. 12:1–4, 12–17).