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1 Kings 15

This chapter covers the reigns of Abijam (Abijah) and Asa, both kings of Judah, as well as briefly mentioning Nadab, a king of Israel. Abijam’s reign is short and marked by continued rebellion against God, while Asa is portrayed as a righteous king who seeks to reform the nation and remove idol worship. The chapter highlights the contrast between their leadership and the consequences of their actions on the kingdom.

1 Kings 15:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.
2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom.
3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;
5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

Abijam followed in the sinful ways of his father, Rehoboam, continuing the practices that dishonored God. His reign is brief, and his heart is contrasted with that of King David, who is praised for his overall faithfulness to God despite his moral failure with Uriah. God's covenant with David leads to Abijam's brief reign being tolerated, and Jerusalem remains intact, continuing David's dynasty for the sake of God’s promises to him.

1 Kings 15:6-8 (NKJV)
6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
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.
8 So Abijam rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place.

The conflict between Judah and Israel that began under Rehoboam continued during Abijam’s reign. His short reign is marked by war with Jeroboam, the king of Israel, though not much else is recorded about his deeds. After Abijam’s death, his son Asa becomes king, marking the transition to a new chapter in Judah’s history.

1 Kings 15:9-11 (NKJV)
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.
10 And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom.
11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father David.

Asa’s reign is notably different from that of his father Abijam. He is remembered for his long reign of 41 years and his commitment to following God’s commands, emulating the faithfulness of David. Asa’s reign brings stability to Judah, and his righteous rule is praised in comparison to the previous kings who led Judah into idolatry and rebellion.

1 Kings 15:12-15 (NKJV)
12 And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
13 Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron.
14 But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s heart was loyal to the Lord all his days.
15 He also brought into the house of the Lord the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils.

Asa’s reforms were significant. He took decisive action to purge Judah of idolatry, even removing his own grandmother from her influential position because of her involvement in idol worship. Though he did not completely eradicate all pagan practices, such as the high places, Asa’s loyalty to God was evident, and he restored sacred items to the temple, indicating his devotion to honoring God.

1 Kings 15:16-19 (NKJV)
16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
17 And Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
18 Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was 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 Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying,
19 “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

Asa faced opposition from Baasha, the king of Israel, who fortified the city of Ramah to cut off Judah’s access. In response, Asa sought an alliance with Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, using the treasures from the temple and palace to secure military support. This strategic move was meant to break Baasha’s hold over Judah by involving a foreign power, though it also showed Asa’s reliance on political alliances rather than fully trusting God for deliverance.

1 Kings 15:20-22 (NKJV)
20 So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
21 Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah, and remained in Tirzah.
22 Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

Ben-Hadad responded to Asa’s request and attacked several northern Israelite cities, forcing Baasha to abandon his efforts at Ramah. Asa capitalized on this victory by dismantling Baasha’s fortifications and using the materials to strengthen his own cities. This not only neutralized the threat from Baasha but also allowed Asa to fortify key locations within Judah, demonstrating his effectiveness as a ruler.

1 Kings 15:23-24 (NKJV)
23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, 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.
24 So Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

Asa’s reign is summarized by noting his various accomplishments and his strength as a ruler. However, in his later years, he suffered from a disease in his feet, which is mentioned as a detail of his decline. Despite this, his legacy as a righteous king remains, and after his death, his son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, continuing the line of David.

1 Kings 15:25-28 (NKJV)
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.
26 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.
27 Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha killed him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
28 Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.

Nadab’s brief reign in Israel follows in the footsteps of his father Jeroboam, continuing the idolatrous practices that led Israel into sin. His rule ends when Baasha, one of his own commanders, assassinates him during a siege on a Philistine city. This internal power struggle highlights the instability and wickedness in the northern kingdom of Israel, in contrast to Asa’s more righteous reign in Judah.

1 Kings 15:29-31 (NKJV)
29 And it was so, when he became king, that he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,
30 because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.
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?

Baasha's rise to power fulfilled a prophecy given by Ahijah, as he wiped out Jeroboam's entire family. This act was a consequence of Jeroboam’s idolatry and the way he led Israel into sin, provoking God’s anger. The complete destruction of Jeroboam’s lineage was part of God's judgment for these sins. Nadab’s reign, brief and wicked like his father’s, is summarized with no notable accomplishments beyond perpetuating his family's legacy of rebellion against God.

1 Kings 15:32-34 (NKJV)
32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years.
34 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.

The chapter concludes with a focus on Baasha's reign in Israel, which continues the trend of evil leadership that began with Jeroboam. Baasha’s rule, like his predecessor's, leads the people further away from God, perpetuating idolatry and rebellion. The ongoing conflict between Baasha and Asa highlights the tensions between the two kingdoms, and while Baasha reigned for many years, his reign was marked by disobedience to God.

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