Artist: Michelangelo- Sistine Chapel
between 1508 and 1512
Rehoboam and Abijah belonged to the royal house of David after Solomon's death. Rehoboam's reign saw the division of Israel into northern and southern kingdoms. Abijah succeeded him as king of Judah. Their inclusion among the ancestors of Christ reflects the continuation of the Davidic family through a troubled period of political division and conflict.
Matthew 1:7 lists Rehoboam and Abijah in the genealogy of Jesus. Rehoboam's refusal to ease the burdens imposed during Solomon's reign contributed to the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 12:1-20). Abijah inherited the throne of Judah and continued the conflict with the northern kingdom (2 Chronicles 13). Despite the failures and conflicts of these rulers, the Davidic line continued. Their presence in Matthew's genealogy shows that God's promise to David was not dependent upon the faithfulness of every succeeding king.
The figures in this lunette belong to the subdued ancestral cycle rather than to Michelangelo's dramatic scenes of biblical action. The artist uses the curved space above the chapel window to present human figures within a shared domestic setting. The inscription identifies the royal generations, while the figures convey the broader experience of human life. The contrast is especially meaningful here because the named kings ruled during a period marked by division and uncertainty.
