1 Kings 15
BSB1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king of Judah, 2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 3 And Abijam walked in all the sins that his father before him had committed, and his heart was not as fully devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his forefather had been. 4 Nevertheless, for the sake of David, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and to make Jerusalem strong. 5 For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not turned aside from anything the LORD commanded all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6 And there was war between the houses of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijam’s life. 7 As for the rest of the acts of Abijam, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8 And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place. 9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became king of Judah, 10 and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done. 12 He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 The high places were not removed, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted to the LORD all his days. 15 And he brought into the house of the LORD the silver and gold and other articles that he and his father had dedicated. 16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days. 17 Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. 18 So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: 19 “Let there be a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me." 20 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole land of Naphtali, including the region of Chinnereth. 21 When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah. 22 Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah. 23 Now the rest of the acts of Asa, along with all his might, all his accomplishments, and the cities he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? In his old age, however, he became diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place. 25 In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned two years. 26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit. 27 Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city. 28 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place. 29 As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30 because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger. 31 As for the rest of the acts of Nadab, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days. 33 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years. 34 And Baasha did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.
Study Notes — 1 Kings 15
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from 1 Kings 15
- Themes from 1 Kings 15
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on 1 Kings 15
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
The chapter begins with the reign of Abijam, king of Judah, who walked in the sins of his father Rehoboam (1 Kings 15:1-3). However, the Lord was gracious to Abijam for David's sake, and Abijam's son Asa succeeded him. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and removed the male cult prostitutes from the land (1 Kings 15:11-12). The chapter also mentions the war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, and how Asa sought help from the king of Aram (1 Kings 15:16-22). The chapter concludes with the reign of Nadab, king of Israel, who was swiftly removed by God for his disobedience (1 Kings 15:25-31).
Context for the Chapter
This chapter is part of the larger narrative of 1 Kings, which describes the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah. The chapter is also part of the larger biblical narrative, which describes God's relationship with his people and his plan of salvation. The chapter serves as a reminder to us of the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of disobedience.
Heart Application
As we read this chapter, we are reminded of the importance of faithfulness to God. We are encouraged to examine our own lives and to seek to obey God's commands. We are also reminded of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of seeking God's forgiveness and mercy.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
This chapter describes the reigns of Abijam and Asa, kings of Judah, and highlights their faithfulness to God. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and removed the male cult prostitutes from the land (1 Kings 15:11-12). The chapter also mentions the war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, and how Asa sought help from the king of Aram (1 Kings 15:16-22). We are reminded of the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of disobedience.
Voices from the Church
“Faithfulness to God is the hallmark of a true believer. As Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, so we must seek to obey God's commands in our own lives.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The removal of Nadab by God serves as a warning to us of the consequences of disobedience. We must seek to obey God's commands and to trust in his mercy and forgiveness.”
— John Calvin
Outline for Preaching
- The Reign of Abijam (1 Kings 15:1-8) — The chapter begins with the reign of Abijam, king of Judah, who walked in the sins of his father Rehoboam. However, the Lord was gracious to Abijam for David's sake.
- The Reign of Asa (1 Kings 15:9-24) — Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and removed the male cult prostitutes from the land. The chapter also mentions the war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, and how Asa sought help from the king of Aram.
- The Reign of Nadab (1 Kings 15:25-31) — The chapter concludes with the reign of Nadab, king of Israel, who was swiftly removed by God for his disobedience.
- The War between Asa and Baasha (1 Kings 15:16-22) — The chapter mentions the war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, and how Asa sought help from the king of Aram.
- The Faithfulness of Asa (1 Kings 15:11-12) — Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and removed the male cult prostitutes from the land. This serves as a reminder to us of the importance of faithfulness to God.
Core Doctrines
- The Importance of Faithfulness
- The chapter highlights the importance of faithfulness to God, as seen in the examples of Asa and David. This faithfulness is rewarded by God, while disobedience is punished.
- The Consequences of Disobedience
- The chapter also highlights the consequences of disobedience, as seen in the removal of Nadab by God. This serves as a warning to us to obey God's commands.
- The Role of Human Leaders
- The chapter mentions the reigns of Abijam, Asa, and Nadab, and highlights the importance of human leaders obeying God's commands. This serves as a reminder to us of the importance of seeking God's guidance in our lives.
- The Sovereignty of God
- The chapter demonstrates the sovereignty of God, who removes Nadab from power and establishes new leaders. This serves as a reminder to us of God's power and authority over all things.
Lessons from 1 Kings 15
- The Importance of Faithfulness — The chapter teaches us that faithfulness to God is essential for a successful and blessed life. We must seek to obey God's commands and to trust in his mercy and forgiveness.
- The Consequences of Disobedience — The chapter warns us of the consequences of disobedience, as seen in the removal of Nadab by God. We must seek to obey God's commands and to avoid the pitfalls of sin and rebellion.
- The Role of Human Leaders — The chapter reminds us of the importance of human leaders obeying God's commands. We must seek to follow the example of Asa and to trust in God's guidance and wisdom.
- The Sovereignty of God — The chapter demonstrates the sovereignty of God, who removes Nadab from power and establishes new leaders. We must trust in God's power and authority over all things.
- The Importance of Seeking God's Guidance — The chapter teaches us the importance of seeking God's guidance and wisdom in our lives. We must seek to follow the example of Asa and to trust in God's mercy and forgiveness.
Themes from 1 Kings 15
- Faithfulness to God — The chapter highlights the importance of faithfulness to God, as seen in the examples of Asa and David. This faithfulness is rewarded by God, while disobedience is punished.
- The Consequences of Disobedience — The chapter warns us of the consequences of disobedience, as seen in the removal of Nadab by God. We must seek to obey God's commands and to avoid the pitfalls of sin and rebellion.
- The Role of Human Leaders — The chapter reminds us of the importance of human leaders obeying God's commands. We must seek to follow the example of Asa and to trust in God's guidance and wisdom.
- The Sovereignty of God — The chapter demonstrates the sovereignty of God, who removes Nadab from power and establishes new leaders. We must trust in God's power and authority over all things.
- The Importance of Seeking God's Guidance — The chapter teaches us the importance of seeking God's guidance and wisdom in our lives. We must seek to follow the example of Asa and to trust in God's mercy and forgiveness.
Questions for Meditation
- What does the chapter teach us about the importance of faithfulness to God?
- How does the chapter illustrate the consequences of disobedience?
- What role do human leaders play in the chapter, and what can we learn from their examples?
- How does the chapter demonstrate the sovereignty of God?
- What practical applications can we make from the chapter in our own lives?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. The Reign of Abijam (1 Kings 15:1-8)
| 15:1 | The chapter begins with the reign of Abijam, king of Judah, who walked in the sins of his father Rehoboam. |
| 15:2 | Abijam's mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. |
| 15:3 | Abijam walked in all the sins that his father had done before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, like the heart of David his father. |
| 15:4 | Nevertheless, 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. |
| 15:5 | Because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. |
| 15:6 | Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. |
| 15:7 | The rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? |
| 15:8 | And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. |
2. The Reign of Asa (1 Kings 15:9-24)
| 15:9 | And Asa became king in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel. |
| 15:10 | And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. |
| 15:11 | Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. |
| 15:12 | He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. |
| 15:13 | He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. |
| 15:14 | But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. |
| 15:15 | And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver and gold and vessels. |
| 15:16 | And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. |
| 15:17 | Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. |
| 15:18 | Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house and gave them into the hands of his servants. |
| 15:19 | And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying. |
| 15:20 | 'Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.' |
| 15:21 | And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. |
| 15:22 | And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. |
| 15:23 | Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. |
| 15:24 | And the rest of the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? |
3. The Reign of Nadab (1 Kings 15:25-31)
| 15:25 | Nadab 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. |
| 15:26 | He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. |
| 15:27 | Then Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. |
| 15:28 | Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. |
| 15:29 | As soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. |
| 15:30 | This was for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned and which he made Israel to sin, and because of the anger that he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel. |
| 15:31 | Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of 1 Kings 15?
The main theme of 1 Kings 15 is the importance of faithfulness to God, as seen in the examples of Asa and David. This faithfulness is rewarded by God, while disobedience is punished, as seen in the removal of Nadab by God (1 Kings 15:25-31).
Who was Abijam and what did he do?
Abijam was the king of Judah who walked in the sins of his father Rehoboam (1 Kings 15:1-3). However, the Lord was gracious to Abijam for David's sake, and Abijam's son Asa succeeded him.
What was the significance of Asa's removal of the male cult prostitutes?
Asa's removal of the male cult prostitutes from the land was a significant act of faithfulness to God, as it demonstrated his commitment to obeying God's commands and removing idolatry from the land (1 Kings 15:11-12).
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 15:11 → 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 | Asa's faithfulness to God is also described in 2 Chronicles 14:2-5, where it is written that Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 15:25 → 1 Samuel 2:30-31 | The removal of Nadab by God is reminiscent of the removal of Eli's family from the priesthood, as described in 1 Samuel 2:30-31. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 15:12 → Deuteronomy 23:17-18 | The removal of the male cult prostitutes from the land is in accordance with the command of Deuteronomy 23:17-18, which prohibits the presence of cult prostitutes in Israel. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 15:13 → 2 Kings 13:6 | The removal of Maacah from being queen mother is similar to the removal of the Asherah pole by Jehu, as described in 2 Kings 13:6. |
| 5 | 1 Kings 15:16 → Joshua 18:25 | The city of Ramah, which Baasha built, is also mentioned in Joshua 18:25 as a city in the territory of Benjamin. |
| 6 | 1 Kings 15:18 → 2 Kings 12:17-18 | Asa's sending of his servants to Ben-hadad, king of Syria, is similar to the actions of Joash, king of Judah, who sent his servants to Hazael, king of Syria, as described in 2 Kings 12:17-18. |
| 7 | 1 Kings 15:22 → 1 Kings 5:17-18 | Baasha's stopping of building Ramah is reminiscent of the stopping of the building of the temple by Solomon, as described in 1 Kings 5:17-18. |
| 8 | 1 Kings 15:29 → 1 Samuel 2:31 | The destruction of the house of Jeroboam is reminiscent of the destruction of the house of Eli, as described in 1 Samuel 2:31. |
| 9 | 1 Kings 15:30 → Deuteronomy 9:4-5 | The anger that Jeroboam provoked is similar to the anger that the Israelites provoked in the wilderness, as described in Deuteronomy 9:4-5. |
| 10 | 1 Kings 15:31 → 2 Chronicles 16:11 | The rest of the acts of Nadab are also described in 2 Chronicles 16:11, where it is written that Nadab did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. |
Sermons on 1 Kings 15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Almost Persuaded by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of setting good examples in life. He shares a personal experience of witnessing three young men being arrested and reflects on |
|
Have You Ever Heard of Asa? by Russell Kelfer | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Asa from the Bible. He emphasizes that God is looking for obedience, not talent or intellect. The preacher asks the audience if |
|
(1 Kings) Why Dynasties Come and Go by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker begins by reminding the audience of the previous events in the book of First Kings, specifically the transition of power from David to Solomon. They hig |
|
Walk as Jesus Walked by Joshua Daniel | This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of walking as Jesus walked, highlighting the need to align our actions with the example set by Christ. It delves into the imp |
|
Disobedience and Death of Asa by Chuck Smith | In his sermon, Chuck Smith discusses the disobedience and eventual death of King Asa, emphasizing how Asa's reliance on human strategy rather than faith in God led to his downfall. |
|
Elijah’s Dramatic Appearance by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink discusses the dramatic appearance of Elijah during a dark period in Israel's history, marked by rampant idolatry and wicked kings. He highlights the spiritual decline ini |
|
Asa's Good Reign by C.I. Scofield | C.I. Scofield preaches on the life of King Asa, highlighting his reforms and the secret of his victory found in his prayer and perfect heart towards the Lord. Despite Asa's imperfe |
|
Asa Did . . . Right in the Eyes by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of living righteously in the eyes of the Lord, as exemplified by King Asa, who took bold actions to remove idolatry from his kingdom. Despite h |
|
One Good Prophet, One Bad Prophet, and One Ugly but Seriously Important Lesson by Brent Barnett | Brent Barnett delves into the intriguing yet crucial story of the unnamed 'man of God' in 1 Kings 13, who boldly confronts King Jeroboam about idol worship, obeys God's commands, b |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on 1 Kings 15
In this chapter, we see the reigns of Abijam, Asa, and Nadab, each with their own unique characteristics and consequences. Abijam walked in the sins of his father Rehoboam, but the Lord was gracious to him for David's sake. Asa, on the other hand, did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and removed the male cult prostitutes from the land. However, he also sought help from the king of Aram, rather than trusting in the Lord. Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and was swiftly removed by God. This chapter teaches us the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of disobedience. As Matthew Henry notes, 'those who are faithful to God shall be supported and succeeded, but those who are unfaithful shall be removed and destroyed.' Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The Importance of Faithfulness
The chapter highlights the importance of faithfulness to God, as seen in the examples of Asa and David. This faithfulness is rewarded by God, while disobedience is punished.
The Consequences of Disobedience
The chapter also highlights the consequences of disobedience, as seen in the removal of Nadab by God. This serves as a warning to us to obey God's commands.
The Role of Human Leaders
The chapter mentions the reigns of Abijam, Asa, and Nadab, and highlights the importance of human leaders obeying God's commands. This serves as a reminder to us of the importance of seeking God's guidance in our lives.