1 Kings 15 - Introduction
_A.M. 3046. B.C. 958._ The reigns of Abijam and Asa over Judah, 1 Kings 15:1. Of Nadab and Baasha over Israel, 1 Kings 15:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 3046. B.C. 958._ The reigns of Abijam and Asa over Judah, 1 Kings 15:1. Of Nadab and Baasha over Israel, 1 Kings 15:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Reigned Abijam over Judah_ So his reign began with Jeroboam's eighteenth year, continued his whole nineteenth year, and ended within his twentieth year, in which also Asa's reign began; and thus one and the same year may be attributed to two several persons. _Three years reigned he_, &c. That is, p... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord gave him a lamp_ A son and successor, to perpetuate his name and memory, which otherwise had gone into obscurity. _Jerusalem_ That he might maintain that city, and temple, and worship, as a witness for himself in the world, against the Israelites and heathen world.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Save only in the matter of Uriah_ This, and the like phrases, are not to be understood as exclusive of every sinful action, but only of an habitual and continued apostacy from God, as the very phrase of _turning aside_ from God, or from his commands, doth generally imply: and thus it is most true;... [ Continue Reading ]
This was mentioned before, (1 Kings 14:30,) and therefore may seem to come in here improperly, because the historian is not speaking of Rehoboam, but of his son Abijam. Bochart thinks that _Rehoboam_ stands here for _the son of Rehoboam._ But the meaning of these words seems rather to be, that thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mother's name_ That is, his grandmother's, as appears from 1 Kings 15:2. She is called his mother in the same sense in which David is called Abijam's father, 1 Kings 15:3; that is, his progenitor. And his grandmother's name may be here mentioned, rather than his mother's, because his mother was... [ Continue Reading ]
_He took away the sodomites_ All whom he could find out; but some escaped his observation, as appears from 1 Kings 22:46. _And removed all the idols his father had made_ If his father had made them, he had the more need to remove them, that he might cut off the entail of the curse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her he removed from being queen_ He took from her either the name and authority of queen regent, which she, having been Rehoboam's wife, and Abijam's mother, took to herself during Asa's minority, or the dignity of the queen-mother, and those guards, or instruments of power, which she had enjoyed a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The high places were not removed 2 Chronicles 14:3_. _He took away the altars of_ the _strange_ gods, _and the high places_ where they were worshipped: but as for those high places where the true God was worshipped, he did not take them away; partly, because he thought there was no great evil in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He brought in the things which his father had dedicated_ Namely, Abijam, when he was in distress, and going to fight with Jeroboam, (2 Chronicles 13.,) though afterward he did not perform his vows, nor bring into the house of the Lord what he had devoted: probably he was prevented by death. Asa his... [ Continue Reading ]
_Baasha built Ramah_ That is, repaired and fortified it. It was a city in the tribe of Benjamin, which either belonged to the kingdom of Israel, or he had taken it from Judah. _That he might not suffer any to go out_, &c. That he might hinder all communication between his people and the people of Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asa took all the silver and gold that were left_ Which either Shishak had left, or Abijam or Asa or others, of both Israel or Judah, had dedicated; which probably was not inconsiderable, because Asa had got great spoils from Zarah, (2 Chronicles 14.) and he, and his numerous and prosperous people,... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is a league between me and thee_ In the latter end of Solomon's reign, the Syrians were enemies to him, 1 Kings 11:24: but when he was dead, and the kingdom was divided, both Judah and Israel made peace with the Syrians; having enough to do to settle themselves in their own dominions. _Behold... [ Continue Reading ]
_And smote Ijon and Dan_, &c. He fell upon the northern part of the kingdom of Israel, which was nearest to Damascus; while Baasha was busy at Ramah, which was in the more southern part. _And dwelt in Tirzah_ Now the royal city of Israel. There he abode to defend his own kingdoms, and durst not retu... [ Continue Reading ]
_None were exempted_ All sorts of persons were obliged to come, except those who were disabled by age, or infirmity, or absence, or by the public service of the king and kingdom in other places. _Built Geba,_ &c. Repaired and strengthened them, for they were built before; which he judged better than... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nevertheless he was diseased in his feet_ Notwithstanding the great things which he had done, and the glory and prosperity which he had enjoyed, he felt the effects of human infirmity, and of his own sins. He probably had the gout, which made him less active than he had been before this disease sei... [ Continue Reading ]
_And reigned over Israel two years_ Not complete, as appears from 1 Kings 15:28. _And walked in his sin_ In the worship of the calves which his father had made. If the death of his brother Abijah had had a due influence upon him, to make him religious, and the honour done to that well-disposed young... [ Continue Reading ]
_Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines_ This was a city in the tribe of Dan, given to the Levites, (Joshua 19:44; Joshua 21:23,) who quitted it, as they did the rest of their cities, when Jeroboam would not suffer them to execute their office, 2 Chronicles 11:14; and the P... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even in the third year of Asa did Baasha slay him_ It was threatened, (1 Kings 14:15,) that Israel should be _as a reed shaken in the water._ And so they were, when, during the single reign of Asa, their government was in seven or eight different hands. Jeroboam was upon the throne at the beginning... [ Continue Reading ]
_He smote all the house of Jeroboam_ The first thing he did when he came to the crown was, to cut off all that had any title to it, that he might secure himself in his usurped government. He did not think it enough to imprison or banish them, but he destroyed them; and carried his vengeance so far,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of the sins of Jeroboam_ Thus that same wicked policy which he used to establish the kingdom in his family, proved his and their ruin; which is very frequently the event of ungodly counsels.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he walked in the way of Jeroboam_ This makes it evident that Baasha did not cut off Jeroboam's family because they were idolaters, but because he aspired to the throne; which, when he had obtained, he endeavoured to establish himself in by the same impious policy which Jeroboam had used: for he... [ Continue Reading ]