Abijam’s short reign ended, and the faithful kingship of Asa began.
“And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place.” (1 Kings 15:8). This verse depicts the moment of transition from King Abijam to his successor, Asa. Abijam, also referred to as Abijah in some scriptural accounts, ruled over the kingdom of Judah from approximately 913 to 911 BC. He is identified as the son of Rehoboam and grandson of Solomon, placing him in the Davidic line established centuries before (1 Kings 11:43). When the verse says “Abijam slept with his fathers” (1 Kings 15:8), it employs a common biblical expression for death, indicating that Abijam died and was laid to rest in the same ancestral tombs as his forefathers.
The verse continues with “and they buried him in the city of David” (1 Kings 15:8). The city of David is ancient Jerusalem, believed to be the original stronghold that King David conquered around 1003 BC. It became the royal and spiritual center of Israel, containing significant landmarks such as the site for the Temple that King Solomon later built (1 Kings 8). As the burial place for Judah’s monarchs, it further honors Abijam’s direct lineage from King David, ensuring that even in death he remains tied to his heritage and the covenant promises linked to it.
Finally, the passage concludes with “and Asa his son became king in his place” (1 Kings 15:8). Asa ascended to the throne around 911 BC and reigned until about 870 BC. In the broader biblical narrative, Asa’s kingship is significant because he appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:7), representing God's ongoing work to preserve the Davidic line. Between Abijam’s relatively short reign and Asa’s more extensive leadership, 1 Kings consistently underscores how the succession of power unfolds under divine sovereignty and threads through the story leading to the Messiah.
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1 Kings 15:8 meaning
“And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place.” (1 Kings 15:8). This verse depicts the moment of transition from King Abijam to his successor, Asa. Abijam, also referred to as Abijah in some scriptural accounts, ruled over the kingdom of Judah from approximately 913 to 911 BC. He is identified as the son of Rehoboam and grandson of Solomon, placing him in the Davidic line established centuries before (1 Kings 11:43). When the verse says “Abijam slept with his fathers” (1 Kings 15:8), it employs a common biblical expression for death, indicating that Abijam died and was laid to rest in the same ancestral tombs as his forefathers.
The verse continues with “and they buried him in the city of David” (1 Kings 15:8). The city of David is ancient Jerusalem, believed to be the original stronghold that King David conquered around 1003 BC. It became the royal and spiritual center of Israel, containing significant landmarks such as the site for the Temple that King Solomon later built (1 Kings 8). As the burial place for Judah’s monarchs, it further honors Abijam’s direct lineage from King David, ensuring that even in death he remains tied to his heritage and the covenant promises linked to it.
Finally, the passage concludes with “and Asa his son became king in his place” (1 Kings 15:8). Asa ascended to the throne around 911 BC and reigned until about 870 BC. In the broader biblical narrative, Asa’s kingship is significant because he appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:7), representing God's ongoing work to preserve the Davidic line. Between Abijam’s relatively short reign and Asa’s more extensive leadership, 1 Kings consistently underscores how the succession of power unfolds under divine sovereignty and threads through the story leading to the Messiah.