Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 15

Verses 1-34

1 Kings 15:1-8 The Reign of Abijam over Judah (913-910 B.C) 1 Kings 15:1-8 records the story of Abijam’s reign as king over Judah.

1 Kings 15:5 Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

1 Kings 15:5 Comments - One major difference between King Saul and King David was that David never rejected or disobeyed the prophet of the Lord, while Saul rejected the office of the prophet and priest. For example, in the midst of David’s sin with Bathsheba, he humbled himself at the voice of Nathan the prophet. In contrast, Saul disobeyed the voice of Samuel, and because Saul did not repent, God never sent Samuel back to Saul with a word from God. (Perhaps this is because the Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not impose Himself upon us.) In addition, Saul killed the Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob, and their families (1 Samuel 22:6-19). At this point Saul’s heart was hardened so that God could no longer speak to him. When he was facing death, he sought a word from Samuel through the witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28:7-19).

1 Kings 15:9-24 The Reign of Asa over Judah (910-869 B.C.) - 1 Kings 15:9-24 records the story of Asa reigning as king over Judah.

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 stead.

1 Kings 15:24 Comments - King Asa ruled over Judah from 910 to 869 B.C. Although his son Jehoshaphat took over the throne after him (872-848 B.C.), the story of his reign is not discussed until 1 Kings 22:41-50. Instead, the author of 1 Kings jumps back forty years in time in the following verse and picks up with the reign of Nadab, the king of Israel (909-908 B.C.), who followed Jeroboam (930-909 B.C.), the first king over northern Israel. King Jeroboam will be mentioned a number of times prior to 1 Kings 22:41-50 because he had made friends with King Ahab of Israel.

1 Kings 15:25-32 The Reign of Nadab Over Israel (909-908 B.C.) 1 Kings 15:25-32 records the story of Nadab reigning over Israel. He was the second king over Israel, following his father Jeroboam (930-909 B.C.).

1 Kings 15:33 to 1 Kings 16:7 The Reign of Baasha Over Israel (908-886 B.C.) 1 Kings 15:33 to 1 Kings 16:7 records the story of Baasha as king over Israel.