1 Kings 15:25-31

II. THE KINGS OF ISRAEL 15:25-16:34
(910-870 B.C.)

Chronologically 1 Kings 15:25 to 1 Kings 16:34 is parallel to 1 Kings 15:9-24. To state the matter differently, the reigns of Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri and the early years of Ahab were synchronological with the lengthy reign of Asa of Judah. The reigns of the first five successors of Jeroboam are related only briefly inasmuch as these reigns had little bearing on religious history of Israel. From 1 Kings 15:25 through 2 Kings 10 the historian has focused almost entirely upon the Northern Kingdom, except for the brief notices in 1 Kings 22:46-49 and 2 Kings 8:16-24. This preoccupation with Northern affairs is partly to be explained by the limited significance of Judah during this period, and partly by the heightened prophetic activity in the North.

The last event to be related regarding the Northern Kingdom was the death of Jeroboam recorded in 1 Kings 14:20. Now the account of that kingdom is taken up anew. The author discusses (1) the fall of Jeroboam's dynasty (1 Kings 15:25-31); (2) the Baasha dynasty (1 Kings 15:32 to 1 Kings 16:14); (3) the seven day reign of Zimri (1 Kings 16:15-20); and (4) the Omri dynasty (1 Kings 16:21-34).

A. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM 15:25-31

TRANSLATION

(25) And Nadab the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned two years. (26) And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, and he walked in the way of his father and in his sin with which he had made Israel to sin. (27) And Baasha, the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon which belongs to the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon. (28) And Baasha slew him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. (29) And it came to pass when he reigned, he smote all the house of Jeroboam. He left not any that breathed to Jeroboam until he had destroyed him according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by the hand of his servant Ahijah the Shilonite; (30) because of the sins of Jeroboam which he had committed and with which he had caused Israel to sin, by his vexing by which he vexed the LORD God of Israel. (31) Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Second King of Israel
NADAB BEN JEROBOAM
910-909 B.C.
(Willing)

1 Kings 15:25-31

Synchronism
Nadab 1 = Asa 2

The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. Proverbs 14; Proverbs 11

COMMENTS

Nadab,[386] the son of Jeroboam, was only able to hold the throne of Israel for two years (1 Kings 15:25). He continued the schismatic religious policies of his father (1 Kings 15:26). Against this weak king, Baasha, from the tribe of Issachar, conspired. While Nadab was leading a campaign to recover Gibbethon[387] from Philistine control, the plot was executed and the king was slain (1 Kings 15:27). The assassination is said to have taken place in the third year of Asa of Judah (1 Kings 15:28). Here is a very clear instance of the Hebrew habit of counting parts of years as entire years for it is obvious that if Nadab succeeded to the throne in the second (1 Kings 15:25) and died in the third year of Asa, he cannot have reigned two full years (1 Kings 15:25). Since the assassination of Nadab took place during a military campaign, it is probable that Baasha was one of the military officers.

[386] The name seems to be a shortened form of Nadabiah which means Yahweh has freely given at Yahweh incites to noble deeds. See Gray, OTL, p. 341.

[387] A Levitical city on the frontiers of Dan (Joshua 19:44; Joshua 21:23) which had fallen into the hands of the Philistines, or perhaps had always remained under their control. Gibbethon is possibly to be identified with Tell Mal-'at, three miles west of Gezer and five miles north of Ekron.

Upon assuming the throne, Baasha launched a bloody purge that utterly wiped out the house of Jeroboam, thus eliminating all potential rivals. By so doing, Baasha was unconsciously fulfilling the prophecies of Ahijah the Shilonite concerning the posterity of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:10). The massacre of the descendants is regarded by the author of Kings as being divine retribution for the sins which Jeroboam had committed (1 Kings 15:30). Whatever other accomplishments Nadab made during his brief reign were to be found in the prophetic annals of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 15:31).