1 kings 15:1 - Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.

Generated Verse: 1 kings 15:1

What does "1 kings 15:1" mean?


This verse from 1 Kings 15:1 is a simple chronological marker that establishes the timing of Abijam's reign over the kingdom of Judah in relation to the reign of Jeroboam I, king of Israel. Let's break it down:

"Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat..." This part tells us that Abijam's reign began in the 18th year of Jeroboam I's rule. Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the kingdom split following Solomon's death.

"...Abijam began to reign over Judah." This states that Abijam (also known as Abijah in 2 Chronicles) became the king of Judah. Judah was the southern kingdom, composed primarily of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, that continued under the Davidic line.

In essence, the verse provides a temporal link between the two kingdoms. It's a way of synchronizing the historical narratives of Israel and Judah, helping to create a timeline of events during this period of divided monarchy. Biblical historians used these kinds of synchronisms to connect the reigns of different kings and determine a rough chronology for the events described in the books of Kings and Chronicles.

It's important to note that there can be complexities in reconciling these dates with modern chronological systems due to different dating methods and potential overlapping reigns (e.g., co-regencies).

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