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Maacah מַעֲכָה

Female Tribe of Judah H4601K 2 books

Daughter of Abishalom; wife of Rehoboam; mother of Abijah

Biography

Maacah, also referred to as Micaiah, was the daughter of Abishalom (likely Absalom, the son of David) and the wife of King Rehoboam of Judah (1Ki.15.2; 2Ch.11.20-21). She was the mother of Abijah, who succeeded Rehoboam as king (1Ki.15.2; 2Ch.11.22; 13.2). Maacah held the influential position of queen mother during the reigns of Rehoboam and Abijah. However, she was removed from this role by her grandson, King Asa, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah (1Ki.15.13; 2Ch.15.16). Maacah's story illustrates the political significance of the queen mother in the Judean monarchy and the religious reforms undertaken by King Asa to purge idolatry from the land.

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In Scripture

2 biblical books
1 Kings 3 verses
  • 1 Kings 15:2

    "He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom."

  • 1 Kings 15:10

    "He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom."

  • 1 Kings 15:13

    "He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron."

2 Chronicles 5 verses
  • 2 Chronicles 11:20

    "After her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith."

  • 2 Chronicles 11:21

    "Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters."

  • 2 Chronicles 11:22

    "Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king."

  • 2 Chronicles 15:16

    "Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron."

  • 2 Chronicles 13:2

    "He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam."

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew מַעֲכָה H4601K
Named Hebrew מִיכָיָ֫הוּ H4322H