In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam Abijah began to reign over Judah: As happens frequently in the books of 1-2 Kings, here the beginning of the reign of the king of Judah is dated by the number of the year of the king of Israel. It was after Jeroboam had ruled over Israel for eighteen years that Abijah started to rule over Judah, which was around 913 B.C. This means that Abijah became king of Judah eighteen years after the northern kingdom separated from the southern kingdom. Since this is the beginning of a new chapter and a new section, some translations identify Jeroboam more completely as the king of Israel (so Good News Translation). Began to reign is literally “reigned.” Revised Standard Version supplies the verb began, which is appropriate in this context. Another acceptable rendering is “became king” (Good News Translation, La Bible du Semeur).

It may be more natural in some languages to change the order of information given in this verse; for example, New Century Version has “Abijah became the king of Judah during the eighteenth year Jeroboam was king of Israel.” Another possible model is:

• Abijah began to rule over Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .