Rehoboam’s reign ended in Jerusalem, paving the way for his son Abijam’s ascension to the throne.
“And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. And Abijam his son became king in his place.” (v.31) This verse describes the end of King Rehoboam’s reign over the southern kingdom of Judah, which he ruled from approximately 931 BC to 913 BC. The phrase “slept with his fathers” indicates that Rehoboam died and joined his ancestors in death, following the traditional formula for the death of the kings of Judah. The “city of David” is an early name for Jerusalem, the capital city located in the territory of Judah. This place had immense significance for Israel because it was established by King David (who reigned approximately from 1010 BC to 970 BC) as his central seat of government and a symbol of God’s presence among His people (2 Samuel 5:7 though not italicized here as a supporting verse).
We also learn that “his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess” (v.31). The reference to Naamah reveals that Rehoboam’s mother came from the nation of Ammon, a region east of the Jordan River. Historically, the Ammonites had frequently been in conflict with Israel (Judges 10:9 supporting verse). The mention of his mother’s heritage underscores the complexities within the royal family tree, reflecting how different nations and cultures influenced Judah’s monarchy. Despite the mixed lineage, the Davidic line continued to pass from David to Solomon, then on down to Rehoboam and eventually forward to the Messiah, Jesus (Matthew 1:6-7 supporting reference).
Finally, “And Abijam his son became king in his place” (v.31) points to the succession of Rehoboam’s son, who is also called Abijah in some biblical references. He would rule over Judah after Rehoboam. While Rehoboam faced challenging times, including conflicts with the northern kingdom of Israel, God continued His covenant-promised lineage through David’s descendants. The mention of this transition highlights God’s persistent faithfulness to preserve David’s dynasty, a promise ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33 supporting reference).
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1 Kings 14:31 meaning
“And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. And Abijam his son became king in his place.” (v.31) This verse describes the end of King Rehoboam’s reign over the southern kingdom of Judah, which he ruled from approximately 931 BC to 913 BC. The phrase “slept with his fathers” indicates that Rehoboam died and joined his ancestors in death, following the traditional formula for the death of the kings of Judah. The “city of David” is an early name for Jerusalem, the capital city located in the territory of Judah. This place had immense significance for Israel because it was established by King David (who reigned approximately from 1010 BC to 970 BC) as his central seat of government and a symbol of God’s presence among His people (2 Samuel 5:7 though not italicized here as a supporting verse).
We also learn that “his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess” (v.31). The reference to Naamah reveals that Rehoboam’s mother came from the nation of Ammon, a region east of the Jordan River. Historically, the Ammonites had frequently been in conflict with Israel (Judges 10:9 supporting verse). The mention of his mother’s heritage underscores the complexities within the royal family tree, reflecting how different nations and cultures influenced Judah’s monarchy. Despite the mixed lineage, the Davidic line continued to pass from David to Solomon, then on down to Rehoboam and eventually forward to the Messiah, Jesus (Matthew 1:6-7 supporting reference).
Finally, “And Abijam his son became king in his place” (v.31) points to the succession of Rehoboam’s son, who is also called Abijah in some biblical references. He would rule over Judah after Rehoboam. While Rehoboam faced challenging times, including conflicts with the northern kingdom of Israel, God continued His covenant-promised lineage through David’s descendants. The mention of this transition highlights God’s persistent faithfulness to preserve David’s dynasty, a promise ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32-33 supporting reference).