Queen Abijah was the wife of King Ahaz (r. 743-715 BC), and mother of King Hezekiah of Judah (r. 728-686 BC). She was the daughter of Zechariah.
Queen Abijah’s husband, Ahaz, was the son of King Jotham of Judah (r. 750-732 BC).
When Rezin (r. 754-732 BC) king of Aram and Pekah (r. 752-732 BC) son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, he sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser III (r. 744-727 BC) king of Assyria with this message, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.”
And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to Tiglath-Pileser III. The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to death.
Their son, King Hezekiah (r. 728-686 BC) succeeded him as king.
Hezekiah began to rule over Judah in the third year of the reign of King Hoshea of Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.
Hezekiah, King of Judah, rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute.
Perhaps incited by King Marduk-apla-iddina to join in the anti-Assyrian coalition, Hezekiah seized King Padi, a pro-Assyrian ruler of Ekron.
According to King Sennacherib (r. 704-681 BC) of Assyria, Hezekiah freed Padi, king of Ekron, who was given some former Judaean territory as compensation for his ordeal on behalf of Assyria.
King Sennacherib laid siege to the fortified towns of Judah, giving orders for his army to break through their walls. When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city. They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”
Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields. He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying:
“Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people.
The siege was unsuccessful due to the foresight of Hezekiah in protecting his water-supplies.
When Queen Abijah’s son, Hezekiah died, her grandson Manasseh (r. 697-642 BC) succeeded him as king.
Centuries later, Jesus would be crucified in Jerusalem (c. 33 AD).
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Like this post? Stop by and read “Queen Jerusha: Wife of King Azariah (Uzziah) and Mother of Jotham.” Her son, Jotham (r. 750-732 BC), succeeded King Azariah of Judah.
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