1 Kings 15
Abijam's Reign in Judah
1Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.
2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
3He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
4Nevertheless for David’s sake, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem;
5because David did that which was right in the LORD’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.
6Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
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.
8Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place.
Asa's Reign in Judah
9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.
10He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
11Asa did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, as David his father did.
12He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
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.
14But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days.
15He brought into the LORD’s house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils.
16There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
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.
18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of the LORD’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,
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.”
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.
21When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.
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.
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.
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.
Nadab's Reign in Israel
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.
26He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
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.
28Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him and reigned in his place.
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 the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite;
30for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.
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?
32There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
Beginning of Baasha's Reign
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.
34He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
1 Kings 15 chronicles the reigns of four kings during the divided monarchy period. In Judah, Abijam's brief three-year reign was marked by sin and warfare, while his son Asa brought significant religious reforms, removing idols and cult prostitutes, though he failed to eliminate the high places. In Israel, Nadab's evil reign lasted only two years before Baasha assassinated him and seized the throne, continuing the pattern of violence and apostasy that plagued the northern kingdom.
Context
This chapter continues the pattern established in chapter 14 of contrasting the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, showing God's faithfulness to David's line despite ongoing apostasy.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-8Abijam's Reign in JudahAbijam rules for three years, walking in his father's sins despite God's faithfulness to David's covenant.
- 9-15Asa's Religious ReformsAsa begins his 41-year reign with extensive religious reforms, removing idols and cult prostitutes from Judah.
- 16-22Asa's War with BaashaAsa forms an alliance with Syria against Israel's King Baasha, forcing him to abandon his fortification of Ramah.
- 23-24End of Asa's ReignAsa's reign concludes with foot disease in his old age, and his son Jehoshaphat succeeds him.
- 25-32Nadab's Brief Reign and DeathNadab rules Israel for two years in evil before Baasha assassinates him during a military siege.
- 33-34Beginning of Baasha's ReignBaasha becomes king of Israel and continues in the sinful ways of Jeroboam's dynasty.
Abijam's Reign in Judah
15:1–15:8Abijam reigns three years in Judah, walking in his father's sins, but God preserves David's lineage for the sake of His covenant with David.
person_contrast
Jeroboam's name appears here solely as a chronological marker, contrasting sharply with his usual role as the archetypal example of covenant-breaking and idolatrous kingship throughout Kings.
Asa's Reign in Judah
15:9–15:24King Asa of Judah does what is right before God by removing idols and sodomites, though he forms an alliance with Syria against Israel rather than trusting solely in God.
person_contrast
Asa uniquely embodies both religious reform and political pragmatism, removing sacred prostitutes and idols while simultaneously bribing Syria's king with temple treasures.
Nadab's Reign in Israel
15:25–15:32Nadab's brief two-year reign over Israel ends when Baasha assassinates him and destroys Jeroboam's entire house, fulfilling God's prophetic judgment through Ahijah for their sins and idolatry.
person_contrast
Nadab's name, meaning "generous" and typically associated with priestly inheritance, ironically appears here as Israel's king whose generosity extends only to perpetuating his father's sins.
Beginning of Baasha's Reign
15:33–15:34Baasha begins his twenty-four year reign over Israel in Tirzah, but continues in the sinful ways of Jeroboam, doing evil in the LORD's sight.
person_contrast
Baasha's father Ahijah shares his name with the prophet who condemned Jeroboam's dynasty, creating bitter irony as Baasha perpetuates the very sins that prophet denounced.
1 Kings 15:1
2 Chronicles 13:1lexicalIn the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.
2 Kings 17:21lexicalFor he tore Israel from David’s house; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam drove Israel from foll…
2 Kings 15:8lexicalIn the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six mon…
2 Kings 14:23lexicalIn the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign…
1 Kings 15:6
1 Kings 14:30lexicalThere was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
2 Chronicles 12:15lexicalNow the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the s…
2 Chronicles 13:2lexicalHe reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war betwee…
1 Kings 15:7
2 Kings 14:28lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he recovered Damascus,…
1 Kings 14:19lexicalThe rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicl…
2 Chronicles 27:7lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of…
2 Kings 8:23lexicalThe rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Ju…
1 Kings 16:20lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles…
1 Kings 15:8
1 Kings 14:31lexicalRehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammon…
2 Chronicles 16:13lexicalAsa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
2 Kings 10:35lexicalJehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.
1 Kings 11:43lexicalSolomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in his father David’s city; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 21:1lexicalJehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Jehoram his son reigned in his…
1 Kings 15:9
1 Kings 16:15lexicalIn the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped agains…
1 Kings 16:29lexicalIn the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab the son of Omri re…
1 Kings 16:8lexicalIn the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years…
1 Kings 16:10lexicaland Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his plac…
1 Kings 14:20lexicalThe days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years; then he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his…
1 Kings 15:10
1 Kings 14:21lexicalRehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned se…
2 Chronicles 12:13lexicalSo King Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to re…
2 Chronicles 24:1lexicalJoash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah,…
2 Chronicles 22:2lexicalAhaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Atha…
1 Kings 15:13
2 Chronicles 15:16lexicalAlso Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image fo…
2 Kings 23:6lexicalHe brought out the Asherah from the LORD’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook…
2 Kings 23:4lexicalThe king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to br…
2 Chronicles 30:14lexicalThey arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the altars for incense and threw them…
2 Kings 18:4lexicalHe removed the high places, broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that…
1 Kings 15:14
2 Chronicles 15:17lexicalBut the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
2 Chronicles 25:2lexicalHe did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.
2 Kings 15:4lexicalHowever, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
2 Kings 14:4lexicalHowever the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
2 Kings 15:35lexicalHowever the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built…
1 Kings 15:15
Joshua 6:19lexicalBut all the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They shall come into the LORD’s treasury.…
2 Chronicles 15:18lexicalHe brought the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into Go…
Ezra 8:28lexicalI said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a free will offering to…
1 Kings 7:51lexicalThus all the work that King Solomon did in the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his…
2 Chronicles 5:1lexicalThus all the work that Solomon did for the LORD’s house was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his fathe…
1 Kings 15:17
2 Chronicles 16:1lexicalIn the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not…
2 Chronicles 16:6lexicalThen Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, with which Baasha had built; and…
2 Chronicles 16:5lexicalWhen Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
1 Kings 15:18
2 Chronicles 16:2lexicalThen Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the LORD’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben H…
2 Kings 8:9lexicalSo Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and…
2 Kings 8:7lexicalElisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick. He was told, “The man of God has come here.”
1 Kings 20:5lexicalThe messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, y…
2 Kings 16:8lexicalAhaz took the silver and gold that was found in the LORD’s house, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it…
1 Kings 15:19
2 Chronicles 16:3lexical“Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silve…
2 Kings 16:8lexicalAhaz took the silver and gold that was found in the LORD’s house, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it…
1 Kings 15:20
2 Chronicles 16:4lexicalBen Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon,…
2 Kings 15:29lexicalIn the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedes…
2 Samuel 24:2lexicalThe king said to Joab the captain of the army, who was with him, “Now go back and forth through all the tribes of Israel…
1 Kings 15:21
2 Chronicles 16:5lexicalWhen Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
2 Chronicles 16:1lexicalIn the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not…
2 Chronicles 16:6lexicalThen Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, with which Baasha had built; and…
1 Kings 15:22
2 Chronicles 16:6lexicalThen Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, with which Baasha had built; and…
2 Chronicles 16:1lexicalIn the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not…
2 Chronicles 16:5lexicalWhen Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
1 Kings 15:23
2 Kings 14:15lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t th…
2 Kings 13:8lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronic…
2 Kings 10:34lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronic…
2 Kings 20:20lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water in…
2 Kings 13:12lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah…
1 Kings 15:24
2 Chronicles 21:1lexicalJehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Jehoram his son reigned in his…
1 Kings 22:41lexicalJehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
2 Chronicles 16:13lexicalAsa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
2 Chronicles 9:31lexicalSolomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in his father David’s city; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
1 Kings 16:6lexicalBaasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place.
1 Kings 15:27
1 Kings 16:17lexicalOmri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
1 Kings 15:29
2 Chronicles 10:15lexicalSo the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about by God, that the LORD might establish his word, which…
1 Kings 12:15lexicalSo the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from the LORD, that he might establish his wor…
2 Chronicles 9:29lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in th…
1 Kings 11:29lexicalAt that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way. Now Ahijah had…
Joshua 11:14lexicalThe children of Israel took all the plunder of these cities, with the livestock, as plunder for themselves; but every ma…
1 Kings 15:30
1 Kings 21:22lexicalI will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for…
1 Kings 16:2lexical“Because I exalted you out of the dust and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jero…
1 Kings 16:26lexicalFor he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke…
1 Kings 16:13lexicalfor all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and with which they made Israel to sin, to p…
Deuteronomy 9:18lexicalI fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because…
1 Kings 15:31
1 Kings 14:19lexicalThe rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicl…
1 Kings 22:39lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he bu…
1 Kings 11:41lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren’t they written in the book of the acts of…
2 Kings 15:31lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the ki…
2 Kings 15:36lexicalNow the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings…
1 Kings 15:33
1 Kings 16:8lexicalIn the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years…
1 Kings 16:15lexicalIn the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped agains…
1 Kings 16:6lexicalBaasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place.
1 Kings 16:23lexicalIn the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He reigned six years in…
1 Kings 22:41lexicalJehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
1 Kings 15:34
2 Kings 15:9lexicalHe did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, as his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the…
1 Kings 16:19lexicalfor his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in…
2 Kings 15:18lexicalHe did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat…
2 Kings 13:2lexicalHe did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made I…
2 Kings 3:3lexicalNevertheless he held to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from t…
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