Abijah's Reign (913–911 BC)

Abijah, also known as Abijam, was the son of Rehoboam and the grandson of Solomon. He reigned as king of Judah for a brief period of three years, from 913 to 911 BC. His reign is primarily documented in 1 Kings 15:1-8 and 2 Chronicles 13. Abijah's rule was marked by conflict with Jeroboam, the king of Israel. Despite his short reign, Abijah is noted for his bold confrontation with Jeroboam, where he stood on Mount Zemaraim and addressed the armies of Israel, reminding them of the Davidic covenant and the legitimacy of Judah's rule.

In 2 Chronicles 13:10-12 , Abijah declared, "But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken Him. The priests who minister to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties. Every morning and every evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the showbread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have forsaken Him."

Despite his appeal to the faithfulness of Judah, Abijah's reign was not characterized by complete devotion to God. 1 Kings 15:3 states, "He walked in all the sins his father had committed before him, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of his forefather David had been." Nevertheless, God granted him victory over Jeroboam, and he was able to strengthen his kingdom during his short reign.

Asa's Reign (911–870 BC)

Asa, the son of Abijah, succeeded his father and reigned for 41 years, from 911 to 870 BC. His reign is detailed in 1 Kings 15:9-24 and 2 Chronicles 14-16. Asa is remembered as a reformer who sought to restore the worship of Yahweh in Judah. He removed the pagan altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. Asa's commitment to God is highlighted in 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 : "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments."

Asa's reign was marked by peace and prosperity, attributed to his faithfulness to God. However, his reign was not without challenges. Asa faced a significant threat from Zerah the Cushite, who came against Judah with a vast army. In response, Asa called upon the LORD, and God delivered Judah from their enemies, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 14:11-12 : "Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, 'O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.' So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled."

In his later years, Asa's reliance on God waned. When faced with the threat from Baasha, king of Israel, Asa sought an alliance with Ben-Hadad of Aram instead of relying on the LORD. This decision was rebuked by the prophet Hanani, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 . Asa's final years were marked by illness, and he died in the forty-first year of his reign. Despite his shortcomings, Asa is remembered as a king who initially sought to lead Judah back to the worship of the true God, and his reign is often seen as a period of religious reform and renewal in Judah.