1 Kings 15 Commentary

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Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission
1 Kings Chart from Charles Swindoll

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL

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1 Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.

• 1Ki 14:31 2Ch 13:1,2-22 

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah

1 Kings 15:2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.

• his mother's: 1Ki 15:13 2Ch 11:20-22 
• Maachah: 2Ch 13:2, Michaiah the daughter of Uriel
• Abishalom: 2Ch 11:21, Absalom

He reigned three years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom

1 Kings 15:3 He walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father David.

• all the sins: 1Ki 14:21,22 
• and his heart: 1Ki 3:14 11:4,33 2Ki 20:3 2Ch 25:2 31:20,21 Ps 119:80 

He walked in all the sins of his father which he had committed before him; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father David

1 Kings 15:4 But for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem;

• for David's: 1Ki 11:12,32 Ge 12:2 19:29 26:5 De 4:37 2Sa 7:12-16 Isa 37:35 Jer 33:20-26 Ro 11:28 
• give him: 1Ki 11:36 2Ch 21:7 Ps 132:17 Lu 1:69-79 2:32  Joh 8:12 Rev 22:16 
• lamp: or, candle, Ps 18:28 
• and to establish: Ps 87:5 Isa 9:7 14:32 62:7 Jer 33:2 Mic 4:1,2 Mt 16:18 

But for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to raise up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem;

1 Kings 15:5 because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

• David: 1Ki 15:3 14:8 2Ki 22:2 2Ch 34:2 Ps 119:6 Lu 1:6 Ac 13:22,36 
• save only: 2Sa 11:4,15-17 12:9,10 Ps 51:1 *title

because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite

1 Kings 15:6 There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.  

• there was war: Instead of Rehoboam fourteen MSS., 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 ch. 14:30, and a repetition which interrupts the history of Abijah:  (see 2 Ch 13:3, etc.) 1Ki 14:30 

There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life

1 Kings 15:7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

• the rest: 1Ki 14:29 2Ch 13:2,21,22 
• there was war: 2Ch 13:3-20 

Now the rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam

1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place.  

• Abijam: 1Ki 14:1,31 2Ch 14:1 
• Asa: 1Ch 3:9 Mt 1:7,8 

And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place

1 Kings 15:9 So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah.

So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah

1 Kings 15:10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.

• mother's: that is, grandmother's. 1Ki 15:2,13 2Ch 11:20,21 13:2 

He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom

1 Kings 15:11 Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father. 

• Asa: 1Ki 15:3 2Ch 14:2,11 15:17 16:7-10 

Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father

1 Kings 15:12 He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made.

• the sodomites: 1Ki 14:24 22:46 Ro 1:26,27 Jude 1:7 
• all the idols: 1Ki 15:3 11:7,8 14:23 2Ch 14:2-5 Eze 20:18,19 Zec 1:2-6 1Pe 1:18 

He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had mad

1 Kings 15:13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

• Maachah: 1Ki 15:2,10 2Ch 15:15,16-19 
• his mother: De 13:6-11 33:9 Zec 13:3 Mt 10:37 12:46-50 2Co 5:16 Ga 2:5,6,14 
• destroyed: Heb. cut off, Lev 26:30 De 7:5 2Ki 18:4 23:12-15 2Ch 34:4 
• and burnt: Ex 32:20 De 9:21 Jos 6:24 
• the brook: 2Sa 15:23 2Ki 23:6 Joh 18:1, Cedron

He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron

1 Kings 15:14 But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days.

• the high places: 1Ki 22:43 2Ki 12:3 14:4 15:4 2Ch 14:3,5 
• was perfect: 1Ki 15:3 8:61 11:4 2Ch 15:17,18 16:9 25:2 

But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days

1 Kings 15:15 He brought into the house of the LORD the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils.  

• he brought: 1Ki 7:51 1Ch 26:26-28 2Ch 14:13 15:18 
• things: Heb. holy

He brought into the house of the LORD the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils

1 Kings 15:16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

• 1Ki 15:6,7,32 14:30 2Ch 16:1-6 

Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days

1 Kings 15:17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.

• Baasha: 1Ki 15:27 2Ch 16:1-6 
• Ramah: By building Ramah is here meant fortifying it, in order to prevent all intercourse with the kingdom of Judah, lest his subjects should cleave to the house of David:  for Ramah was a city of Benjamin, situated on the confines of both kingdoms, probably on a hill, as the name imports, commanding a narrow defile between the mountains, through which lay the principal road to Jerusalem; so that a fortification being erected here, no communication could be held between the people of Israel and Judah, without Baasha's permission. 1Ki 15:21 Jos 18:25 1Sa 15:34 Jer 31:15 
• he might not suffer: 1Ki 12:27 2Ch 11:13-17 

Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.

1 Kings 15:18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold which were left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,

• Asa: 1Ki 15:15 14:26 2Ki 12:18 18:15,16 2Ch 15:18 16:2-6 
• Benhadad: 1Ki 20:1-5,33,34 2Ki 8:7-15 
• Damascus: 1Ki 11:23,24 Ge 14:15 15:2 Jer 49:27 Am 1:4 

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold which were left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying

1 Kings 15:19 “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you a present of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”

• There is a league: 2Ch 19:2 Isa 31:1 
• break thy league: 2Sa 21:2 2Ch 16:3 Eze 17:13-16 Ro 1:31 3:8 
• depart: Heb. go up

Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you a present of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”

1 Kings 15:20 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah and all Chinneroth, besides all the land of Naphtali.

• Ijon: Probably the same as Hazar-enan, a frontier town to Damascus, (Eze 48:1;) and perhaps the Inna of Coele-Syria, long. 68 degrees and a half, lat. 33 degrees, according to Ptolemy. 2Ki 15:29 
• Dan: 1Ki 12:29 Ge 14:14 Jdg 18:29, Abel-beth-maachah, 2Sa 20:14,15 
• Cinneroth: Jos 11:2 12:3 

So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah and all Chinneroth, besides all the land of Naphtali.

1 Kings 15:21 When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and remained in Tirzah.

• when Baasha: 2Ch 16:5 
• Tirzah: 1Ki 14:17 16:15-18 Song 6:4 

When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and remained in Tirzah

1 Kings 15:22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah–none was exempt–and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had built. And King Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.

• made a proclamation: 2Ch 16:6 
• exempted: Heb. free
• Geba: Jos 18:24, Gaba, Jos 21:17 
• Mizpah: Jos 18:26 1Sa 7:5, Mizpeh, Jer 40:6,10 

Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah–none was exempt–and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had built. And King Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah

1 Kings 15:23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa and all his might and all that he did and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

• rest of all: 1Ki 15:7,8 14:29-31 
• in the time: 2Ch 16:12-14 Ps 90:10 

Now the rest of all the acts of Asa and all his might and all that he did and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet

1 Kings 15:24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

• was buried: Of his splendid and costly funeral we read in 2 Ch 16:14.
• Jehoshaphat: 1Ki 22:41-43 2Ch 17:1-9 Mt 1:8, Josaphat

And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place

1 Kings 15:25 Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 

• Nadab: 1Ki 14:12,20 

Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years

1 Kings 15:26 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin.

• he did evil: 1Ki 16:7,25,30 
• walked: 1Ki 12:28-33 13:33,34 
• in his sin: 1Ki 15:30,34 14:16 16:19,26 21:22 22:52 Ge 20:9 Ex 32:21 1Sa 2:24 2Ki 3:3 21:11 23:15 Jer 32:35 Ro 14:15 1Co 8:10-13 

He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin

1 Kings 15:27 Then Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.  

• Baasha the son: 1Ki 15:16,17 14:14 
• conspired: 1Ki 16:9 2Ki 12:20 
• Gibbethon: 1Ki 16:15,17 Jos 19:44 21:23 

Then Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon

1 Kings 15:28 So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place.

• De 32:35 

So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place

1 Kings 15:29 It came about as soon as he was king, he struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam any persons alive, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,

• he left not: 1Ki 14:9-16 2Ki 9:7-10,36,37 10:10,11,31 19:25 

It came about as soon as he was king, he struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam any persons alive, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite

1 Kings 15:30 and because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.  

• the sins: 1Ki 15:26 14:9-16 
• by his provocation: 1Ki 14:22 

and because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger

1 Kings 15:31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

• are they not written: 1Ki 14:19 16:5,14,20,27 

Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

1 Kings 15:32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.  

• there was war: That is, there was a constant spirit of hostility kept up between the two kingdoms, and no doubt frequent skirmishing between the bordering parties; but there was no open war till Baasha king of Israel began to build Ramah, which was, according to 2 Ch 15:19; 16:1, in the thirty-sixth year of Asa; but according to ch. 16:8, 9, his son was killed by Zimri in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, and consequently he could not make war upon him in the thirty-sixth year of his reign. Chronologers endeavour to reconcile this, by saying that the years should be reckoned, not from the beginning of Asa's reign, but from the separation of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.  We must either adopt this mode of solution, or admit that there is a mistake in some of the numbers, probably in the parallel places in Chronicles, but which we have no direct means of correcting. 1Ki 15:16 

There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days

1 Kings 15:33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel at Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years.

• twenty and four years: 1Ki 16:8 

In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel at Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years

1 Kings 15:34 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin. 

• he did evil: 1Ki 15:26 
• walked: 1Ki 15:26 12:28,29 13:33,34 14:16 Isa 1:4 

He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin