by Mike James

One of the arguments critics of the Bible make is that there are seeming contradictions in the Scriptures. I disagree with that assessment. Careful study of the Scriptures will reveal the seeming contradictions can be resolved.

One of these seeming discrepancies revolves around the person of King Abijah (Abijam) of Judah. In the book of Kings, this king's name is Abijam (1 Kings 15:1), while in Chronicles, he is called Abijah (2 Chronicles 11:21-22).

The variation in names, such as Abijam and Abijah, often occurs due to differences in transliteration and translation practices over time and across different biblical texts.

Another issue that comes up with Abijah deals with his mother. Take a look at these two verses:

2 Chronicles 11:21-22: "And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters), And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king" (KJV).

2 Chronicles 13:1-2: "Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah, He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam" (KJV).

Now the issue seems to be about who Maachah's (Michaiah) mother was. In 2 Chronicles 11 the father is Absalom, but in 2 Chronicles 13 the father of Maachah is Uriel.

Also, keep in mind the difference in the mother's name (Maachah and Michaiah) is like the point we made about Abijah's name above.

First, we need to look at the word for daughter in Hebrew in these verses. The term in the Hebrew is bath. In the Strong's Concordance it says the term can be used in a wide sense both literally and figuratively. Therefore, it can be used to refer to a granddaughter or great granddaughter also.

In 2 Samuel 14:27 we read that Absalom had three sons and a daughter. His daughter's name was Tamar. Tamar married Uriel of Gibeah and gave birth to Maacah. Whether you call her the daughter of Absalom or the daughter of Uriel depends on whether you intend to focus on her father or grandfather.

Now keep all this in mind and notice 1 Kings 15:8-10: "And Abijam [Abijah] slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom [Absalom]" (KJV).

Looking at 1 Kings 15:1-2, we also read that Abijam's (Abijah) mother was Maachah, so it must be that Maachah is Asa's grandmother.

The following quote from an article by Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch on Maachah provides further clarification to all this: After serving as queen mother during Abijah's short reign, Maacah continues in that position under her son or grandson, Asa. If Asa is her grandson, this atypical retention of Maacah's title adds support to the contention that the queen mother was an official functionary in the Judean court and not simply the female parent of the king. Maacah's role appears most clearly as an official functionary in the Judean cult when Asa removes her from her position as gebirah ("great lady") after she makes a cult object associated with the goddess Asherah. Ackerman suggests that the primary and generally accepted responsibility of the queen mother's office was to devote herself to the cultic worship of Asherah.Thus, the lack of biblical evidence for this office might be partly explained by the Bible's reluctance to admit Asherah worship was ever part of the official royal court.

Please remember to take the time to investigate these supposed discrepancies of the Bible. Many are trying to downplay the Bible as not being God's Word. I have found answers that satisfy me on all the supposed contradictions scoffers have suggested.

Sources: Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible, by John W. Haley (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977).

"Abijah of Judah", Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abijah_of_Judah#:~:text=Some%20scholars%20believe%20the%20biblical,elsewhere%20the%20daughter%20of%20Uriel.

"Who Was Abijam's Mother," Is the Bible Contradictory? April 16, 2013, https://isthebiblecontradictory.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/5-who-was-abijams-mother/

The NIV Study Bible, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985)

"Maachah: Bible," by Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/maacah-bible