Abijah: Whereas the history of King Abijah (who ruled approximately 912–911/910 B.C.) occupies only seven and a half verses in the Deuteronomistic source text (1 Kgs. 15:1–8a), the Chronicler’s version is much more extensive (twenty-two and a half verses). The reason for this expansion is that the Chronicler completely altered the portrayal of this king. In Kings, Abijah is described as somebody who “committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been” (1 Kgs. 15:3). In Chronicles he becomes a pious leader who delivers a remarkable speech to Jeroboam when Judah goes into battle with the kingdom of Israel. And he leads his people to a great victory in this battle.

It seems that the Chronicle…