Abijah is called Abijam in Kings (for example, 1 Kings 15:1). Abijam, possibly the Canaanite version of his name, means “my father is Yam.” Yam was the Canaanite sea god featured in the Baal stories (see study note on Job 7:12). Abijah means “my father is Yah,” the common short form for Yahweh, the God of Judah. Abijah ruled from 913 to 910 BC.