1 Kings 15

1Ki 15:1-8.

ABIJAM'S

WICKED

REIGN OVER

JUDAH.

1. Abijam--His name was at first Abijah

(2Ch 12:16);

"Jah," the name of God, according to an ancient fashion, being

conjoined with it. But afterwards, when he was found "walking in all

the sins of his father"

[1Ki 15:3],

that honorable addition was withdrawn, and his name in sacred history

changed into Abijam [LIGHTFOOT].

2. Three years reigned he--(compare

1Ki 15:1

with 1Ki 15:9).

Parts of years are often counted in Scripture as whole years. The reign

began in Jeroboam's eighteenth year, continued till the nineteenth, and

ended in the course of the twentieth.

his mother's name was Maachah--or Michaiah

(2Ch 13:2),

probably altered from the one to the other on her becoming queen, as

was very common under a change of circumstances. She is called the

daughter of Abishalom, or Absalom

(2Ch 11:21),

of Uriel

(2Ch 13:2).

Hence, it has been thought probable that Tamar, the daughter of Absalom

(2Sa 14:27; 18:18),

had been married to Uriel, and that Maachah was their daughter.

3. his heart was not perfect with the Lord . . . , as the heart of

David his father--(Compare

1Ki 11:4; 14:22).

He was not positively bad at first, for it appears that he had done

something to restore the pillaged treasures of the temple

(1Ki 15:15).

This phrase contains a comparative reference to David's heart. His

doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord

(1Ki 15:5)

is frequently used in speaking of the kings of Judah, and means only

that they did or did not do that which, in the general course and

tendency of their government, was acceptable to God. It furnishes no

evidence as to the lawfulness or piety of one specific act.

4. for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp--"A lamp" in

one's house is an Oriental phrase for continuance of family name and

prosperity. Abijam was not rejected only in consequence of the divine

promise to David

(see on

1Ki 11:13-36).

1Ki 15:9-22.

ASA'S

GOOD

REIGN.

10-13. his mother's name was Maachah--She was properly his grandmother,

and she is here called "the king's mother," from the post of dignity

which at the beginning of his reign she possessed. Asa, as a

constitutional monarch, acted like the pious David, laboring to abolish

the traces and polluting practices of idolatry, and in pursuance of his

impartial conduct, he did not spare delinquents even of the highest

rank.

13. also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen--The

sultana, or queen dowager, was not necessarily the king's natural

mother (see

1Ki 2:19),

nor was Maachah. Her title, and the privileges connected with that

honor and dignity which gave her precedency among the ladies of the

royal family, and great influence in the kingdom, were taken away. She

was degraded for her idolatry.

because she had made an idol in a grove--A very obscene figure, and

the grove was devoted to the grossest licentiousness. His plans of

religious reformation, however, were not completely carried through,

"the high places were not removed" (see

1Ki 3:2).

The suppression of this private worship on natural or artificial hills,

though a forbidden service after the temple had been declared the

exclusive place of worship, the most pious king's laws were not able to

accomplish.

15. he brought in the things which his father had dedicated--Probably

the spoils which Abijam had taken from the vanquished army of Jeroboam

(see

2Ch 13:16).

and the things which himself had dedicated--after his own victory over

the Cushites

(2Ch 14:12).

16, 17. there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their

days--Asa enjoyed a ten years' peace after Jeroboam's defeat by

Abijam, and this interval was wisely and energetically spent in making

internal reforms, as well as increasing the means of national defense

(2Ch 14:1-7).

In the fifteenth year of his reign, however, the king of Israel

commenced hostilities against him, and, invading his kingdom, erected a

strong fortress at Ramah, which was near Gibeah, and only six Roman

miles from Jerusalem. Afraid lest his subjects might quit his kingdom

and return to the worship of their fathers, he wished to cut off all

intercourse between the two nations. Ramah stood on an eminence

overhanging a narrow ravine which separated Israel from Judah, and

therefore he took up a hostile position in that place.

18-20. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the

. . . house of the Lord--Asa's religious character is now seen to

decline. He trusted not in the Lord

(2Ch 16:7).

In this emergency Asa solicited the powerful aid of the king of

Damascene-Syria; and to bribe him to break off his alliance with

Baasha, he transmitted to him the treasure lying in the temple and

palace. The Syrian mercenaries were gained. Instances are to be found,

both in the ancient and modern history of the East, of the violation of

treaties equally sudden and unscrupulous, through the presentation of

some tempting bribe. Ben-hadad poured an army into the northern

provinces of Israel, and having captured some cities in Galilee, on the

borders of Syria, compelled Baasha to withdraw from Ramah back within

his own territories.

Ben-hadad--(See on

1Ki 11:14).

22. Then king Asa made a proclamation--The fortifications which Baasha

had erected at Ramah were demolished, and with the materials were built

other defenses, where Asa thought they were needed--at Geba (now Jeba)

and Mizpeh (now Neby Samuil), about two hours' travelling north of

Jerusalem.

23. in the time of his old age he was diseased in his

feet--(See on

2Ch 16:12,

where an additional proof is given of his religious degeneracy.)

1Ki 15:25-34.

NADAB'S

WICKED

REIGN.

25. Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign--No record is given of

him, except his close adherence to the bad policy of his father.

27. Baasha smote him at Gibbethon--This town, within the tribe of

Dan, was given to the Levites

(Jos 19:44).

It lay on the Philistine borders, and having been seized by that

people, Nadab laid siege to recover it.

29. when he reigned, he smote all the house of Jeroboam--It was

according to a barbarous practice too common in the East, for a usurper

to extirpate all rival candidates for the throne; but it was an

accomplishment of Ahijah's prophecy concerning Jeroboam

(1Ki 14:10, 11).