1 Kings 15: Abijam and Asa in Judah, Nadab and Baasha in Israel
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What happens?
Abijam reigns three years over Judah and walks in the sins of his father, yet for David's sake Yahweh gives him a lamp in Jerusalem. His son Asa reigns forty-one years and does what is right in Yahweh's eyes: he puts the male cult prostitutes out of the land, removes the idols, and removes his mother Maacah from being queen mother because of her image for Asherah, though the high places are not taken away. When Baasha king of Israel builds Ramah against him, Asa sends the silver and gold of Yahweh's house and the king's house to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who strikes the cities of Israel, so Baasha stops building. In Israel, Nadab son of Jeroboam reigns two years; Baasha kills him at Gibbethon, reigns in his place, and strikes all the house of Jeroboam, as Yahweh had spoken by Ahijah.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the whole chapter. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. The only words spoken are Asa's message to Ben Hadad, in verse 19. Verse 29, that the house of Jeroboam was struck "according to the saying of Yahweh" by Ahijah, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.
In plain English: In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.
Good to know: From here on the book tells the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel side by side, and it dates each new king by the year of the other kingdom's king: "in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam". These are the text's own numbers. The text gives them as they are and does not explain how they fit together.
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2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
In plain English: He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
Good to know: The text gives the same mother, "Maacah the daughter of Abishalom", for Abijam here and for his son Asa in verse 10. It does not explain this. The dictionary gives the name Abishalom as "Abshalom, a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite". says Rehoboam took "Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom" (the Hebrew there says "daughter"), who bore him Abijah. names Abijah's mother as "Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah".
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3He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father.
In plain English: He walked in all the sins his father had done before him. His heart was not wholly true (literally: complete) with Yahweh his God, as the heart of his father (or: ancestor) David had been.
The Hebrew word: "Perfect" (here: wholly true) is shalem, which the dictionary gives as "complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly". The same words are used of Asa in verse 14: his heart was "perfect" (complete) with Yahweh, even though the high places stayed.
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4Nevertheless for David’s sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem;
In plain English: But for David's sake Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by raising up his son after him and by making Jerusalem stand firm,
Good to know: "A lamp" is the word explained in the note on . The verse itself says what it means here: Yahweh raised up a son after Abijam and made Jerusalem stand firm. In the prophet Ahijah gave Yahweh's word that David would "have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem".
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5because David did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, and didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
In plain English: because David had done what was right in Yahweh's eyes and had not turned aside from anything Yahweh commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Good to know: "The matter of Uriah the Hittite" is told in 2 Samuel 11. In David had Uriah sent "to the forefront of the hottest battle" so that he would die.
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6Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
In plain English: There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
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7The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
In plain English: The rest of what Abijam did, and all his deeds, are they not written in the book of the chronicles (literally: the matters of the days) of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
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8Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Abijam slept with his fathers (or: ancestors), and they buried him in the City of David. His son Asa became king in his place.
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9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.
In plain English: In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.
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10He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
In plain English: He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom (see the note on verse 2).
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11Asa did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, as David his father did.
In plain English: Asa did what was right in Yahweh's eyes, as his father (or: ancestor) David had done.
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12He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
In plain English: He put the male cult prostitutes (this Bible: the sodomites) out of the land, and he removed all the idols his fathers had made.
The Hebrew word: "The sodomites" is qadesh, the word explained in the note on . The dictionary gives it as "a (quasi) sacred person, i.e. ... a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry". says there were such men in the land in Rehoboam's day. "Idols" is gillul, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol".
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13He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.
In plain English: He also removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made a horrible image (this Bible: an abominable image) for Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook (or: valley) Kidron.
The Hebrew words: "Queen" here is gevirah, which the dictionary gives as "a mistress", a lady over others. This Bible says "queen" or "queen mother" in all 6 verses that use it. "Abominable image" is miphletseth, which the dictionary gives as "a terror, i.e. an idol". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and the same story in . The text does not describe the image. "Asherah" is the goddess and her image explained in the note on .
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14But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days.
In plain English: But the high places were not taken away. Even so, Asa's heart was wholly true (literally: complete) with Yahweh all his days.
Good to know: "High places" is bamah, which the dictionary gives as "an elevation". This Bible says "high place" or "high places" in all 12 verses of 1 Kings that use the word. The text says both things side by side: the high places stayed, and Asa's heart was true with Yahweh.
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15He brought into Yahweh’s house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils.
In plain English: He brought into Yahweh's house the holy things his father had dedicated and the holy things he himself had dedicated: silver, gold and utensils.
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16There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
In plain English: There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
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17Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
In plain English: Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, so that no one could go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
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18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hand of his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,
In plain English: Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Yahweh's house and in the treasuries of the king's house, and gave it into the hands of his servants. King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria (Hebrew: Aram), who lived in Damascus, with this message:
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19“Let there be a treaty between me and you, like that between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”
In plain English: "Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will go away from me."
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20Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
In plain English: Ben Hadad listened to King Asa. He sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, all Chinneroth, and all the land of Naphtali.
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21When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.
In plain English: When Baasha heard about it, he stopped building Ramah and stayed in Tirzah.
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22Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and King Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
In plain English: Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; no one was let off. They carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber Baasha had built with, and King Asa used them to build Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.
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23Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
In plain English: The rest of all that Asa did, all his strength, all his deeds and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in his old age he had a disease in his feet.
Good to know: The text says only that Asa had a disease in his feet in his old age. tells the same and adds that "in his disease he didn't seek Yahweh, but just the physicians".
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24Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of his father (or: ancestor) David. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place.
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25Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.
In plain English: Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
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26He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. He walked in the way of his father, and in his sin, the sin he made Israel commit.
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27Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.
In plain English: Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, plotted against him. Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.
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28Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him and reigned in his place.
In plain English: Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and he became king in his place.
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29As soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam. He didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite;
In plain English: As soon as he was king, he struck down the whole house of Jeroboam. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone who breathed, until he had destroyed them, as Yahweh had said through (literally: by the hand of) his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.
Good to know: Ahijah's words against the house of Jeroboam are in and : Yahweh would "utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam". The text says plainly that Baasha left no one who breathed.
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30for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger.
In plain English: This was because of the sins Jeroboam committed and made Israel commit, and because he had provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger.
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31Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
In plain English: The rest of what Nadab did, and all his deeds, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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32There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
In plain English: There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
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33In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years.
In plain English: In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years.
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34He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
In plain English: He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes. He walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin, the sin he made Israel commit.
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