1 Kings 15:6

“And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.] Not the days of Rehoboam, though that was true, and is observed, (<111430>1 Kings 14:30), but all the days of Abijam, before he came to the throne, and in which, when a young man, he was concerned, and which still continued between him and Jeroboam; though some think he is called by his father’s name, as Rehoboam is called David, (<111216>1 Kings 12:16).”

“The writer repeats what he had said in 1 Kings 14:30, in order to remind the reader that Abijam inherited this war from his father. Abijam’s war is described in marginal reference That the author of Kings gives none of its details is agreeable to his common practice in mere military matters. Thus he gives no details of Shishak’s expedition, and omits Zerah’s expedition altogether. return to 'Top of Page'”

“War between, &c. - Upon Jeroboam's invading him with a great army: acting then in his own defence, he totally routed Jeroboam, so that he was quiet the rest of his reign. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 15:10”

“15:6 Abijam inherited the hostility between the northern and southern kingdoms. Like Rehoboam (14:30), he faced war with Jeroboam. During one notable battle (2 Chr 13:2-20), when Abijam and his outnumbered forces were surrounded by northern troops, they cried out to the Lord; God delivered them and enabled them to inflict a severe defeat on Jeroboam.”

“there was war: Instead of Rehoboam fourteen manuscripts, the Arabic, and some copies of the Targum, read Abijam. The Syriac has "Abia, the son of Rehoboam;" and the Editio Princeps of the Vulgate has Abia. This is doubtless the true reading, as otherwise it would be an unnecessary repetition of Kg1 14:30, and a repetition which interrupts the history of Abijah. (See note on Ch2 13:3, etc.) Kg1 14:30 3 Kings (1 Kings) 15:7”

“"And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all his life;" i.e., the state of hostility which had already existed between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continued "all the days of his life," or so long as Abijam lived and reigned. If we take חיּיו כּל־ימי in this manner (not כּל־ימיהם, Kg1 15:16), the statement loses the strangeness which it has at first sight, and harmonizes very well with that in Kg1 15:7, that there was also war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Under Abijam it assumed the form of a serious war, in which Jeroboam sustained a great defeat (see 2 Chron 13:3-20). - The other notices concerning Abijam in Kg1 15:7, Kg1 15:8 are the same as in the case of Rehoboam in Kg1 14:29, Kg1…”