1Abijam's wicked reign. 7He dieth: Asa succeedeth him. 9Asa's good reign. 16On account of the war between him and Baasha he maketh a league with Ben-hadad king of Syria, who causeth Baasha to desist from building Ramah; Asa with the stones thereof buildeth Geba and Mizpah. 23Asa dieth, and is succeeded by Jehoshaphat. 25Nadab's wicked reign. 27He is slain by Baasha, who succeedeth him, and executeth Ahijah's prophecy against Jeroboam's house. 32Baasha's wicked reign.
1NOW in thea eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned 1Abijam over Judah.
a 2 Chron. 13:1.
1 Otherwise called Abijah, 2 Chron. 12:16; 13:1, etc.
22Three years reigned heb in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was 3Maachah, the daughter of 4Abishalom.
2 Beginning from the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, verse 1, and ending with the twentieth. See on verse 9.
b 2 Chron. 13:2.
3 Called also Michaiah, 2 Chron. 13:2.
4 Called also Absalom, 2 Chron. 11:21. Some think him to have been the son of David; many others, another man of that name, who was of Gibeah, otherwise called also Uriel, 2 Chron. 13:2. See the annotation there.
3And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not 5perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
5 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 61.
4Nevertheless 6for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him ac7lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and 8to establish Jerusalem:
6 See 1 Kings 11 on verse 12.
c 1 Kings 11:36.
7 See 1 Kings 11 on verse 36.
8 Namely, in its former political and ecclesiastical state, preserving therein the royal authority, with the remainders of the true religion and the pure worship of God.
5Because David did 9that 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, 10save only ind the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
9 Also verse 11. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 33.
10 Understand this exception in respect of very gross sins, which are done with full knowledge of that which God has forbidden, without precedent inconsiderateness, forgetfulness or mistake of judgment.
d 2 Sam. 11:4, 15; 12:9.
6And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days 11of his life.
11 Namely, of Rehoboam’s life. Of this war there is also mention made 1 Kings 14:30. The same is here again repeated, to show that Abijam, his son, continued the same war; as appears in the following verse and 2 Chron. 13:2, 3.
7Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written 12in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
12 See 1 Kings 14 on verse 19.
8And Abijam 13slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the 14city of David: and Asae his son reigned in his stead.
13 See 1 Kings 1 on verse 21; Deut. 31 on verse 16.
14 See 1 Kings 2 on verse 10.
e 2 Chron. 14:1.
9¶And in the 15twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
15 Namely, about the end of this year.
10And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his 16mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of 17Abishalom.
16 Understand grandmother, also verse 13, for she was the mother of Abijam his father, verse 2. Thus among the Hebrews, not only the immediate parents of which a man is properly born, but also those who are reckoned up higher in a straight line, are called fathers and mothers. See the following verses, etc.
17 See on verse 2.
11And Asa did that which was 18right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his 19father.
18 See 1 Kings 11 on verse 33.
19 The grandfather of his grandfather Rehoboam.
12And he took away thef20sodomites out of the land, and removed all the 21idols that his 22fathers had made.
f 1 Kings 22:47.
20 See Deut. 23 on verse 17.
21 See Lev. 26 on verse 30.
22 Namely, his father Abijam, his grandfather Rehoboam, and his great grandfather Solomon.
13Andg also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being 23queen, because she had made an 24idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and 25burnt it by the brook 26Kidron.
g 2 Chron. 15:16.
23 See of this word 1 Kings 11 on verse 19. Hebr. from being to be a Lady or ruler. The sense is: that he has deposed her from the jurisdiction, which she, as widow of king Rehoboam and as mother of his father Abijam, had accepted. Other, he also prevented from the queen, that is, from his wife, in order that she would not be corrupted.
24 Or, an abominable idol. The Hebrew word signifies, trembling of joints and fear of heart. Such is this idol called, because he terrified men both in soul and body, with the horror of his countenance, and shameful idolatry, and they served him with the terror both of soul and body. Some think him to have been the idol called by the heathen Priapus. Others hold him to have been the idol Pan. See of this idol also, 2 Chron. 15:16.
25 Namely, after he had broken him in pieces and ground him to powder, 2 Chron. 15:16.
26 See 1 Kings 2 on verse 37.
14But the 27high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was 28perfect with the LORD all his days.
27 See Lev. 26 on verse 30.
28 See 1 Kings 8 on verse 61. And understand this perfection and uprightness of the king properly in respect of his affection, inclination and zeal in and for the pure worship of God, although in the remainder of his life he had several imperfections.
15And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated,h and the things 29which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.
h Lev. 5:15.
29 See 2 Chron. 15:18.
16¶And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel 30all their days.
30 Namely, except the first years that they reigned together; for Judah was quiet the first ten years under the reign of Asa, 2 Chron. 14:1, and Baasha began to reign over Israel in the third year of king Asa, verse 28. Or, one must say, that though perhaps there were in the first years of these kings some fallings out on both sides, yet there was no total war between them. Compare the annotation at 2 Chron. 14 on verse 1.
17And Baashai king of Israel went up against Judah, and built 31Ramah, 32that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
i 2 Chron. 16:1.
31 A city situated in the tribe of Benjamin, about the borders of the kingdom of Israel, and on the way to Jerusalem. See further of this city, Judges 4:5.
32 Hebr. not to suffer the going out, and the coming in to Asa, etc. Understand from Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, and other adjacent tribes, out of which many, when they saw that Asa minded the pure worship of God, came over to him, to serve the Lord at Jerusalem according to His Word, 2 Chron. 15:9. Now to hinder this, king Baasha caused his city of Ramah to be fortified. Compare herewith 1 Kings 12:26, 27, etc.
18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were 33left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his 34servants: and king Asa sent them toj Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of 35Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at 36Damascus, saying,
33 Namely, from the times of Rehoboam. See 1 Kings 14:26, and compare herewith the annotation upon it.
34 See Gen. 20 on verse 8.
j 1 Kings 20:1; 2 Chron. 16:2, etc.
35 Some perceive this man to have been the same, who in 1 Kings 11:23 is called Rezon.
36 See Gen. 14 on verse 15.
19There 37is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he 38may depart from me.
37 Although Rezon had been an enemy to Israel, as long as Solomon lived, 1 Kings 11:25, yet it seems by these words, that after the division of the kingdom he was at peace and league with both kings.
38 Hebr. go up.
20So Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote 39Ijon, and 40Dan, and 41Abel-beth-maachah, and all 42Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
39 A city, according to the opinion of some, situated in the tribe of Asher. Others place it in the tribe of Naphtali. See of this city also, 2 Kings 15:29; 2 Chron. 16:4.
40 See Gen. 14 on verse 14.
41 Otherwise called Abel-maim, 2 Chron. 16:4, situated, as some perceive, in Manasseh, or, as some maps show, in Naphtali. See of this city also, 2 Sam. 20:15; 2 Chron. 16:4.
42 A region situated in Naphtali about the sea of Gennesaret. See Joshua 11:2.
21And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in 43Tirzah.
43 See of this city 1 Kings 14 on verse 17.
22Then king Asa 44made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was 45exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of 46Benjamin, and 47Mizpah.
44 Hebr. caused all Judah to hear.
45 Hebr. innocent, guiltless, pure; that is, none might plead any excuse to tarry behind; understand any who were come to years of discretion, that might be used in this work, being not hindered by sickness, age, absence out of the land, or public offices, whereof the king’s commissioners were to judge.
46 A city in the tribe of Benjamin, situated on the borders of Ephraim upon an hill, Joshua 18:24, allotted to the Levites, Joshua 21:17. In the days of king Josiah it was the north-border of the kingdom of Judah, 2 Kings 23:8.
47 See of this city, Judges 11:11.
23The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless 48in the time of his old age he was 49diseased in his 50feet.
48 Namely, in the three last years of his reign; as it appears at 2 Chron. 16:12, 13.
49 In which disease he sought more to the physicians, than to God, 2 Chron. 16:12.
50 Which is perceived to have been the gout.
24And Asak slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the 51city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat hisl son reigned in his stead.
k 2 Chron. 16:13.
51 See 1 Kings 2 on verse 10.
l 2 Chron. 17:1.
25¶And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel 52two years.
52 Understand not two years complete; as appears by the following verses, 28, 33.
26And he did 53evil in the sight of the LORD, and 54walked in the way of his father, and in 55his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
53 See 1 Kings 11 on verse 6.
54 To walk in the way of his ancestors, is to follow them; either in that which is good, that is, in their faith and good works, 1 Sam. 8:3:2 Kings 22:2; 2 Chron. 17:3; or, in that which is evil, that is, in their unbelief and sins, as here and verse 34; 1 Kings 16:19; 22:53.
55 Understand the sin of idolatry. See 1 Kings 14 on verse 16.
27¶And Baasha the son of 56Ahijah, of the 57house of Issachar, 58conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at 59Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
56 Another man different from Ahijah, the prophet of Shiloh, 1 Kings 11:29.
57 That is, of the tribe of Issachar: thus it is said, the house of Ephraim, Judges 10:9; the house of Judah, Hosea 1:7; the house of Levi, Psalm 135:20, etc.
58 The Hebrew word signifies properly to bind, to tie. Therefore when it is used of the minds of men, it is taken sometimes in a good sense, for an engagement in love, as Gen. 44:30, but very often for an engagement in enmity, whereby secret conspiracies are made against persons or states, as here and 1 Sam. 22:8; 1 Kings 16:9, 20; 2 Kings 10:9; 12:20; Neh. 4:8; Amos 7:10.
59 A city situated in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:44, allotted to the Levites for a place of habitation, Joshua 21:23, but subdued and inhabited by the Philistines, and therefore now besieged by Nadab, but not subdued by him; and the besieging thereof was afterward re-assumed by the Israelites. See 1 Kings 16:17.
28Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
29And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the 60house of Jeroboam; he 61left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed 62him, accordingm unto 63the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
60 That is, family. See 1 Kings 14 on verse 10.
61 Hebr. he left not all breath of Jeroboam; that is, he left no man to remain of Jeroboam’s family. Also is the word breath taken for man, Deut. 20:16; Joshua 10:40; 11:14.
62 Namely, Jeroboam, or, until he had destroyed it, to wit, the house, that is, the family of Jeroboam.
m 1 Kings 14:10, 14.
63 This is not to be applied to the intent and purpose of Baasha, as if in destroying Jeroboam’s house, he had aimed at the prediction of God and the sins of Jeroboam; but the meaning is: that God by the cruel tyranny of Baasha has fulfilled the word of His prophecy, and has punished the sins of Jeroboam. Also 1 Kings 16:12.
30Because of the sins of Jeroboam 64which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.
64 Also 1 Kings 14:16, see the annotation.
31¶Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written 65in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
65 See 1 Kings 14 on verse 19.
32And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
33In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah 66to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.
66 Here the word to reign signifies how long a king’s reign lasted: when it is used of the beginning of the king’s reign, then we translate it, became king. See 2 Sam. 2:10.
34And he did evil 67in the sight of the LORD, 68and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
67 See 1 Kings 11 on verse 6.
68 See on verse 26.