Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 15

Introduction

Overview

1 Kings 15:1, Abijam’s wicked reign; 1 Kings 15:7, Asa succeeds him; 1 Kings 15:9, Asa’s good reign; 1 Kings 15:16, The war between Baasha and him causes him to make a league with Bed-hadad; 1 Kings 15:23, Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa; 1 Kings 15:25, Nadab’s wicked reign; 1 Kings 15:27, Baasha conspiring against him, executes Ahijah’s prophecy; 1 Kings 15:31, Nadab’s acts and death; 1 Kings 15:33, Baasha’s wicked reign.

Verse 1

1 Kings 14:31, 2 Chronicles 13:1, 2-22

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 3:10 - Abia 2 Chronicles 11:20 - Abijah

Verse 2

his mother's: 1 Kings 15:13, 2 Chronicles 11:20-22

Maachah: 2 Chronicles 13:2, Michaiah the daughter of Uriel

Abishalom: 2 Chronicles 11:21, Absalom

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 15:10 - mother's 1 Kings 22:42 - And his mother's 2 Chronicles 15:16 - the mother

Verse 3

all the sins: 1 Kings 14:21, 1 Kings 14:22

and his heart: 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 11:4, 1 Kings 11:33, 2 Kings 20:3, 2 Chronicles 25:2, 2 Chronicles 31:20, 2 Chronicles 31:21, Psalms 119:80

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 3:3 - walking 1 Kings 8:61 - perfect 1 Kings 14:31 - Rehoboam 1 Kings 15:5 - David 1 Kings 15:11 - Asa 1 Kings 15:12 - all the idols 1 Kings 15:14 - was perfect 2 Kings 13:6 - walked 2 Kings 14:3 - he did 2 Kings 16:2 - did not 2 Kings 17:7 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 17:3 - he walked Psalms 51:10 - right Acts 13:22 - I have Hebrews 10:22 - a true Revelation 3:2 - thy works

Verse 4

for David's: 1 Kings 11:12, 1 Kings 11:32, Genesis 12:2, Genesis 19:29, Genesis 26:5, Deuteronomy 4:37, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 37:35, Jeremiah 33:20-26, Romans 11:28

give him: 1 Kings 11:36, 2 Chronicles 21:7, Psalms 132:17, Luke 1:69-79, Luke 2:32, John 8:12, Revelation 22:16

lamp: or, candle, Psalms 18:28

and to establish: Psalms 87:5, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 14:32, Isaiah 62:7, Jeremiah 33:2, Micah 4:1, Micah 4:2, Matthew 16:18

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 21:17 - quench 2 Kings 8:19 - for David 2 Kings 16:5 - but could not 2 Kings 19:34 - my servant 2 Chronicles 17:3 - he walked 2 Chronicles 22:11 - she slew him not Psalms 132:10 - thy servant Proverbs 17:6 - and the Isaiah 38:5 - God

Verse 5

David: 1 Kings 15:3, 1 Kings 14:8, 2 Kings 22:2, 2 Chronicles 34:2, Psalms 119:6, Luke 1:6, Acts 13:22, Acts 13:36

save only: 2 Samuel 11:4, 2 Samuel 11:15-17, 2 Samuel 12:9, 2 Samuel 12:10, Psalms 51:1, *title

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 17:20 - he turn 1 Samuel 25:28 - evil hath 2 Samuel 23:39 - Uriah 1 Kings 3:6 - according 1 Kings 3:14 - as thy 1 Kings 9:4 - And if thou 1 Kings 22:43 - he turned 2 Kings 8:19 - for David 2 Kings 18:3 - according 2 Kings 23:25 - that turned 1 Chronicles 21:7 - And God was displeased with this thing 2 Chronicles 31:20 - wrought Psalms 44:18 - heart Psalms 78:72 - according Psalms 132:10 - thy servant Proverbs 6:33 - and his Matthew 1:6 - her

Verse 6

there was war: Instead of Rehoboam fourteen manuscripts, the Arabic, and some copies of the Targum, read Abijam. The Syriac has "Abia, the son of Rehoboam;" and the Editio Princeps of the Vulgate has Abia. This is doubtless the true reading, as otherwise it would be an unnecessary repetition of 1 Kings 14:30, and a repetition which interrupts the history of Abijah. (See note on 2 Chronicles 13:3, etc). 1 Kings 14:30

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 15:16 - General 1 Chronicles 3:10 - Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:2 - And there was

Verse 7

the rest: 1 Kings 14:29, 2 Chronicles 13:2, 2 Chronicles 13:21, 2 Chronicles 13:22

there was war: 2 Chronicles 13:3-20

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 14:30 - General 1 Kings 15:16 - General 1 Kings 15:23 - rest of all 2 Kings 20:20 - the book

Verse 8

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Abijam: 1 Kings 14:1, 1 Kings 14:31, 2 Chronicles 14:1

Asa: 1 Chronicles 3:9, Matthew 1:7, Matthew 1:8

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:43 - slept 1 Kings 15:23 - rest of all 1 Chronicles 3:10 - Asa

Verse 9

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 13:20 - he died

Verse 10

am 3049-3090, bc 955-914

mother's: that is, grandmother's. 1 Kings 15:2, 1 Kings 15:13, 2 Chronicles 11:20, 2 Chronicles 11:21, 2 Chronicles 13:2

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:42 - And his mother's 2 Chronicles 15:16 - the mother

Verse 11

Asa: 1 Kings 15:3, 2 Chronicles 14:2, 2 Chronicles 14:11, 2 Chronicles 15:17, 2 Chronicles 16:7-10

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:43 - he walked 2 Kings 18:3 - according 2 Chronicles 20:32 - the way 2 Chronicles 21:12 - in the ways of Asa

Verse 12

the sodomites: 1 Kings 14:24, 1 Kings 22:46, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:27, Jude 1:7

all the idols: 1 Kings 15:3, 1 Kings 11:7, 1 Kings 11:8, 1 Kings 14:23, 2 Chronicles 14:2-5, Ezekiel 20:18, Ezekiel 20:19, Zechariah 1:2-6, 1 Peter 1:18

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 23:17 - sodomite 2 Kings 18:4 - brake 2 Kings 23:7 - the sodomites 2 Chronicles 14:3 - the high places Hosea 4:14 - and they

Verse 13

Maachah: 1 Kings 15:2, 1 Kings 15:10, 2 Chronicles 15:15, 2 Chronicles 15:16-19

his mother: Deuteronomy 13:6-11, Deuteronomy 33:9, Zechariah 13:3, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 12:46-50, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Galatians 2:5, Galatians 2:6, Galatians 2:14

destroyed: Heb. cut off, Leviticus 26:30, Deuteronomy 7:5, 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 23:12-15, 2 Chronicles 34:4

and burnt: Exodus 32:20, Deuteronomy 9:21, Joshua 6:24

the brook: 2 Samuel 15:23, 2 Kings 23:6, John 18:1, Cedron

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:3 - and burn 1 Kings 2:37 - over the 1 Kings 18:19 - prophets of the groves 2 Kings 17:16 - a grove

Verse 14

the high places: 1 Kings 22:43, 2 Kings 12:3, 2 Kings 14:4, 2 Kings 15:4, 2 Chronicles 14:3, 2 Chronicles 14:5

was perfect: 1 Kings 15:3, 1 Kings 8:61, 1 Kings 11:4, 2 Chronicles 15:17, 2 Chronicles 15:18, 2 Chronicles 16:9, 2 Chronicles 25:2

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 3:3 - only he 2 Kings 18:4 - removed 2 Kings 20:3 - a perfect heart 2 Chronicles 14:2 - good and right 2 Chronicles 15:16 - cut down Isaiah 38:3 - a perfect

Verse 15

he brought: 1 Kings 7:51, 1 Chronicles 26:26-28, 2 Chronicles 14:13, 2 Chronicles 15:18

things: Heb. holy

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 15:18 - Asa 2 Kings 18:15 - General 1 Chronicles 28:12 - the treasuries

Verse 16

1 Kings 15:6, 1 Kings 15:7, 1 Kings 15:32, 1 Kings 14:30, 2 Chronicles 16:1-6

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:1 - long war 1 Kings 15:27 - Baasha the son 2 Chronicles 15:19 - five and thirtieth

Verse 17

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Baasha: 1 Kings 15:27, 2 Chronicles 16:1-6

Ramah: By building Ramah is here meant fortifying it, in order to prevent all intercourse with the kingdom of Judah, lest his subjects should cleave to the house of David: for Ramah was a city of Benjamin, situated on the confines of both kingdoms, probably on a hill, as the name imports, commanding a narrow defile between the mountains, through which lay the principal road to Jerusalem; so that a fortification being erected here, no communication could be held between the people of Israel and Judah, without Baasha's permission. 1 Kings 15:21, Joshua 18:25, 1 Samuel 15:34, Jeremiah 31:15

he might not suffer: 1 Kings 12:27, 2 Chronicles 11:13-17

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 12:25 - built 2 Chronicles 15:19 - five and thirtieth Jeremiah 41:9 - for fear

Verse 18

Asa: 1 Kings 15:15, 1 Kings 14:26, 2 Kings 12:18, 2 Kings 18:15, 2 Kings 18:16, 2 Chronicles 15:18, 2 Chronicles 16:2-6

Benhadad: 1 Kings 20:1-5, 1 Kings 20:33, 1 Kings 20:34, 2 Kings 8:7-15

Damascus: 1 Kings 11:23, 1 Kings 11:24, Genesis 14:15, Genesis 15:2, Jeremiah 49:27, Amos 1:4

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 14:14 - all the gold 1 Chronicles 26:20 - treasures 1 Chronicles 28:12 - the treasuries 2 Chronicles 12:9 - took away

Verse 19

There is a league: 2 Chronicles 19:2, Isaiah 31:1

break thy league: 2 Samuel 21:2, 2 Chronicles 16:3, Ezekiel 17:13-16, Romans 1:31, Romans 3:8

depart: Heb. go up

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:11 - carry down 1 Kings 5:12 - they two 2 Kings 18:15 - General Ecclesiastes 2:4 - I builded Isaiah 9:1 - when

Verse 20

Ijon: Probably the same as Hazar-enan, a frontier town to Damascus - Ezekiel 48:1, and perhaps the Inna of Coele-Syria, long. 68 degrees and a half, lat. 33 degrees, according to Ptolemy. 2 Kings 15:29

Dan: 1 Kings 12:29, Genesis 14:14, Judges 18:29, Abel-beth-maachah, 2 Samuel 20:14, 2 Samuel 20:15

Cinneroth: Joshua 11:2, Joshua 12:3

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 20:1 - Benhadad 1 Kings 20:34 - The cities 2 Chronicles 16:4 - Ijon Isaiah 9:1 - when

Verse 21

when Baasha: 2 Chronicles 16:5

Tirzah: 1 Kings 14:17, 1 Kings 16:15-18, Song of Solomon 6:4

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 15:17 - Ramah 1 Kings 16:6 - Tirzah 2 Kings 15:14 - Tirzah

Verse 22

made a proclamation: 2 Chronicles 16:6

exempted: Heb. free

Geba: Joshua 18:24, Gaba, Joshua 21:17

Mizpah: Joshua 18:26, 1 Samuel 7:5, Mizpeh, Jeremiah 40:6, Jeremiah 40:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:49 - Mizpah Joshua 11:3 - land 2 Kings 23:8 - Geba Zechariah 14:10 - from Geba

Verse 23

rest of all: 1 Kings 15:7, 1 Kings 15:8, 1 Kings 14:29-31

in the time: 2 Chronicles 16:12-14, Psalms 90:10

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:39 - the rest 2 Kings 8:23 - General 2 Kings 20:20 - the book 2 Chronicles 16:11 - Judah Isaiah 10:29 - Geba

Verse 24

am 3090, bc 914

was buried: Of his splendid and costly funeral we read in 2 Chronicles 16:14.

Jehoshaphat: 1 Kings 22:41-43, 2 Chronicles 17:1-9, Matthew 1:8, Josaphat

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:43 - slept 1 Kings 14:31 - Rehoboam 1 Kings 22:2 - Jehoshaphat 1 Kings 22:50 - in the city 1 Chronicles 3:10 - Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 16:13 - slept

Verse 25

am 3050-3051, bc 954-953

Nadab: 1 Kings 14:12, 1 Kings 14:20

began to reign: Heb. reigned

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 14:10 - I will bring 1 Kings 16:6 - Baasha 1 Kings 16:21 - divided 1 Kings 22:51 - two years 2 Kings 15:23 - and reigned two years 2 Kings 21:19 - two years Esther 2:21 - and sought Proverbs 28:2 - the transgression

Verse 26

he did evil: 1 Kings 16:7, 1 Kings 16:25, 1 Kings 16:30

walked: 1 Kings 12:28-33, 1 Kings 13:33, 1 Kings 13:34

in his sin: 1 Kings 15:30, 1 Kings 15:34, 1 Kings 14:16, 1 Kings 16:19, 1 Kings 16:26, 1 Kings 21:22, 1 Kings 22:52, Genesis 20:9, Exodus 32:21, 1 Samuel 2:24, 2 Kings 3:3, 2 Kings 21:11, 2 Kings 23:15, Jeremiah 32:35, Romans 14:15, 1 Corinthians 8:10-13

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 33:9 - made Judah Ezekiel 23:5 - Aholah

Verse 27

Baasha the son: 1 Kings 15:16, 1 Kings 15:17, 1 Kings 14:14

conspired: 1 Kings 16:9, 2 Kings 12:20

Gibbethon: 1 Kings 16:15, 1 Kings 16:17, Joshua 19:44, Joshua 21:23

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 16:7 - because he killed him 2 Kings 9:14 - conspired 2 Kings 21:23 - General

Verse 28

Deuteronomy 32:35

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 16:21 - divided 2 Kings 8:15 - so that he died 2 Kings 15:10 - slew him Proverbs 28:2 - the transgression Jeremiah 41:7 - slew Hosea 7:7 - devoured

Verse 29

he left not: 1 Kings 14:9-16, 2 Kings 9:7-10, 2 Kings 9:36, 2 Kings 9:37, 2 Kings 10:10, 2 Kings 10:11, 2 Kings 10:31, 2 Kings 19:25

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:40 - utterly 1 Kings 13:34 - to cut it off 1 Kings 16:3 - will make thy house 1 Kings 16:11 - he slew 1 Kings 21:22 - make thine 2 Kings 9:9 - like the house Jeremiah 41:7 - slew

Verse 30

the sins: 1 Kings 15:26, 1 Kings 14:9-16

by his provocation: 1 Kings 14:22

Reciprocal: Joshua 22:25 - make 1 Samuel 2:24 - ye make 1 Kings 11:26 - Jeroboam 1 Kings 13:34 - to cut it off 1 Kings 14:16 - who did sin 1 Kings 16:3 - will make thy house 1 Kings 16:13 - in provoking 1 Kings 16:19 - in doing 1 Kings 21:22 - made Israel to sin 2 Kings 21:11 - made Judah 2 Kings 23:15 - the altar Jeremiah 32:35 - to cause Ezekiel 23:5 - Aholah Hosea 6:10 - there

Verse 31

am 3050-3051, bc 954-953

are they not written: 1 Kings 14:19, 1 Kings 16:5, 1 Kings 16:14, 1 Kings 16:20, 1 Kings 16:27

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 22:39 - the rest 2 Chronicles 15:19 - five and thirtieth 2 Chronicles 33:18 - in the book

Verse 32

am 3051-3074, bc 953-930

there was war: That is, there was a constant spirit of hostility kept up between the two kingdoms, and no doubt frequent skirmishing between the bordering parties; but there was no open war till Baasha king of Israel began to build Ramah, which was, according to 2 Chronicles 15:19, 2 Chronicles 16:1, in the thirty-sixth year of Asa; but according to 1 Kings 16:8, 1 Kings 16:9, his son was killed by Zimri in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, and consequently he could not make war upon him in the thirty-sixth year of his reign. Chronologers endeavour to reconcile this, by saying that the years should be reckoned, not from the beginning of Asa's reign, but from the separation of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. We must either adopt this mode of solution, or admit that there is a mistake in some of the numbers, probably in the parallel places in Chronicles, but which we have no direct means of correcting. 1 Kings 15:16

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:1 - long war 2 Chronicles 16:9 - henceforth

Verse 33

twenty and four years: 1 Kings 16:8

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 14:17 - Tirzah 1 Kings 16:1 - Hanani 2 Kings 15:14 - Tirzah 2 Chronicles 15:19 - five and thirtieth Song of Solomon 6:4 - as Tirzah

Verse 34

he did evil: 1 Kings 15:26

walked: 1 Kings 15:26, 1 Kings 12:28, 1 Kings 12:29, 1 Kings 13:33, 1 Kings 13:34, 1 Kings 14:16, Isaiah 1:4

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 12:13 - General 1 Kings 14:9 - hast done 1 Kings 16:2 - thou hast walked 1 Kings 16:19 - in his 1 Kings 21:22 - made Israel to sin 1 Kings 22:52 - and in the way 2 Kings 3:3 - which made