1 Kings 15

1 Kings 15:1

JEroboam the son of Nebat] 2 Chro. 13. 1.

1 Kings 15:2

Maachah] Called also Michaiah, 2 Chro. 13. 2. Two names given to the same person. See chap. 14. 21.

Abishalom] Called Abslom (2 Chronicles 11:21.) and Urial of Gibeah, 2 Chronicles 13:2. This Absalom is supposed to be another then Davids son, 2 Samuel 18:18.

1 Kings 15:3

not perfect] Or entire (see chap. 8. 61.) He made fair shew, 2 Chron. 13. 4, &c. but he wanted soundnesse.

1 Kings 15:4

a lamp] Or, candle. See chap. 11. 32, 36.

to set up] Or, by setting up.

1 Kings 15:5

from any thing] Deliberately, purposely, obstinately.

save onely in the matter of Ʋriah the Hittire] 2 Samuel 11:4. and 2 Samuel 12:9. Under which are comprised his adultery, murther, and many aggravating circumstances which accompanied the same.

1 Kings 15:6

And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the dayes of his life] Chap. 14. 30.

Rehoboam] This is mentioned in Abijams time, because he revived and pursued the warres begun by his father.

1 Kings 15:7

Now the rest of the acts of Abijam] Chap. 14. 29.

chronicles] See chap. 14. 29.

war] Hereof expresse mention is made, 2 Chronicles 13:3.

1 Kings 15:8

slept, &c.] See chap. 2. 10.

Asa his son reigned in his stead] 2 Chronicles 14:1.

1 Kings 15:10

mothers] That is, grand-mothers. All female ancestors in the right line, use to be called mothers; as male, fathers. David, his great-great grand-father (for Asa was the fourth from David) is stiled his father in the next verse. Mention useth to be made of the mothers of kings, because in their younger yeers they were most instructed by them, Proverbs 31:1. and because kings used to have many wives. Therefore by name they expressed the proper mother. It might be that Asa his own mother was dead, and he educated by his grand-mother: who though she were an idolater, yet could not infect him: which maketh much to his commendation.

1 Kings 15:11

right] In the generall course of his life: and particularly about the worship of God, though otherwise he had many infirmities, and committed sundry grosse sins, as 2 Chr. 16. 7, 10, 12.

1 Kings 15:12

Sodomites] See chap. 14. v. 24.

out of the land] Heb. from the earth. He slew them, as 2 Samuel 4:2.

fathers] Solomon (chap. 11. 7.) Rehoboam (chap. 14. 23.) and Abijam (chap. 15. 3.)

1 Kings 15:13

Maachah his mother] 2 Chron. 15. 16.

queen] Though the king her husband were dead, yet she retained a royall dignity, yea, and authority too, at least over her own court, in her sons, and grand-childes time, and probable it is, that she had a command over such as were of her idolatrous religion. The wives of kings deceased, are still called queen-mothers. Such an one was Athaliah, 2 Chronicles 22:2-3. Asa deprived his mother of all dignity, and authority which either she had by custome, or usurped.

idol] The Hebrew word signifieth an horrible thing. This idol was horrible in the uglinesse and filthinesse of it: so as the worst of idols were brought in among the Jews. See chap. 11. 7.

in a grove] See chap. 16. 33.

destroyed] Heb. cut off.

burnt it] To shew his great indignation against it: and utterly to abolish it, Deuteronomy 7:5.

Kidron] See chap. 2. 37. He burnt it by this river, that he might cast the ashes of it thereinto, and so nothing at all thereof be preserved, 2 Kings 23:12. see Exodus 32:20.

1 Kings 15:14

the high places] People were loath to be tied to one place for their sacrifices, and therefore would here and there have their high places, and that in times of Reformation, 2 Kin. 12. 3. and 15. 4, 35. though he took away high places which were for idols, (2 Chro. 14. 13.) yet the high places which were for Gods worship (such as are mentioned, chap. 3. v. 2.) he let stand: which he ought not to have permitted, Deut. 12. 5, 6, 11.

neverthelesse] Though the people did so and so, yet the king neither appointed them so to do, nor approved them in so doing.

perfect] See v. 11. and chap. 8. 61.

with the Lord] In regard of the worship of God.

1 Kings 15:15

things] Heb. holy.

his father] After that famous victory, 2 Chronicles 13:15.

dedicated] Vowed to the LORD, and prepared for the temple, but had not brought into it.

vessels] For the services of the temple. See chap. 7. 45, 50.

1 Kings 15:16

war] See chap. 14. v. 30.

1 Kings 15:17

Baasha king of Israel went up, &c.] In the thirteenth yeer of his own raign, and sixteenth of Asa’s, 2 Chron. 16. 1.

against Judah] To block up the passages (not to invade it) as the words following shew.

built] Made strong with bul-works, and forts. See the notes on 2 Chronicles 11:6.

Ramah] A city in the tribe of Benjamin, (Joshua 18:25.) upon the frontiers of Ephraim, Judges 4:5.

any] Of his own subjects.

go out, or come in] Lest they might joyn with the men of Judah in the true worship of God, and become Asa’s subjects, chap. 12. 26, 27.

1 Kings 15:18

left] After Shishak’s pillaging, chap. 14. v. 26.

of the house of the Lord] Here in he committed sacriledge.

Benhadad] 2 Chronicles 16:2. A name common to sundry kings of Syria (chap. 20. 1. 2 Kings 8:7. and 2 Kings 13:3.) as Pharaoh to the kings of Egypt. See the notes on 2 Kings 23:29.

Hezion] He is supposed to be Rezon, mentioned chap. 11. 23. who was an inveterate enemy of the Jews.

Damascus] See chap. 11. 24, 25.

1 Kings 15:19

a league] This phrase importeth a renewing of a former league betwixt the armies of Judah and Syria, which was forbidden, Judg. 2. 2.

come] He hires the king of Syria against Israel: wherein he addes sin to sin. First, he distrusts God, 2 Chronicles 16:7. Secondly, he spoils himself to enrich an infidell. Thirdly, he invites an enemy into Israel. Fourthly, he causeth a breach of covenant. Fifthly, he trusteth too much to the arm of flesh, Isaiah 31:1.

depart] Heb. go up.

1 Kings 15:20

hearkned] Being allured by Asa his rich present, v. 18.

smote] In breaking league, he exercised great hostility.

Ijon] A frontier town, 2 Kings 15:29.

Dan] In the tribe of Dan, Joshua 19:47.

Abel-beth-maacah] Called Abel-maim, 2 Chronicles 16:4. This is that strong city whereunto Sheba betook himself, 2 Samuel 20:15.

all Cinneroth] All the town situate by the sea of Cinneroth (Joshua 12:3.) called Genesaret, Luke 5:1.

with all the land of Napthali] The store-cities therein, 2 Chronicles 16:4. By this and the fore-mentioned places which were in severall tribes, it appears, that this enemy ranged up and down, and did great spoil in many of the coasts of Israel.

1 Kings 15:21

he left] To defend his own countrey against the enemies incursions.

dwelt] Had his chief residency, after he had secured his land, he continued quiet, without any revenge against Asa.

Tirzah] See chap. 14. v. 17.

1 Kings 15:22

made] Heb. made to hear.

a proclamation] To gather his subjects together, to demolish Baasha’s work, and perfect his own with all expedition.

none exempted] Heb. free. From adding their assistance.

built] As v. 17.

Geba] A strong city in Benjamin given to the Levites, Joshua 21:17. It was the north coast of the kingdom of Judah.

Mizpah] Another city in the same tribe, Joshua 18:26. Asa here made a great pit, which continued till the captivity, Jerem. 41. 9.

1 Kings 15:23

his might] Valiant deeds, 1 King. 14. 15, 28.

Neverthelesse] His prosperity could not keep away the got: for his sin made God afflict him: yet did he not seek the LORD in his affliction, 2 Chronicles 16:12.

1 Kings 15:24

slept, &c.] See chap. 2. 10.

Jehoshaphat] Matth. 1. 8, called Josaphat.

1 Kings 15:25

began t reign] Heb. reigned.

in the second] Asa his first yeer ended in the twenty and one of Jeroboam, vers. 9. His second in the twenty and two: in which Jeroboam, died, and Nadab succeeded.

two yeers] Current, as v. 2. For Nadabs first yeer was in the second of Asa: his second in Asa’s third, wherein Nadab was slain, v. 28.

1 Kings 15:26

his sin] About the golden calves. See chap. 12. v. 30.

1 Kings 15:27

Ahijah] See chap. 11. v. 29.

conspired] Traiterously, as chap. 16. 9, 20. 2 Kings 12:20. his treason is aggravated by the time when, and place where he did it.

Gibbethon] A city in the tribe of Dan, given to the Levites, Joshua 21:23.

Philistines] Who possessed it at that time.

laid siege] To recover it: which, because he effected not in his time, the people after him renewed the siege, chap. 16. v. 15.

1 Kings 15:28

third] See v. 25.

1 Kings 15:29

smote] He slw. See chap 14. v. 10.

any that breathed] This phrase is oft restrained to reasonable persons: as Joshua 11:14.

the saying of the Lord] Chap. 14. 10.

1 Kings 15:30

sins of Jeroboam] Wherein Nadab his son persisted, v. 26.

1 Kings 15:31

chronicles] Civill records.

1 Kings 15:32

war] See v. 16.

1 Kings 15:33

twenty and four] Current. See v. 2. For he began his reign in the third yeer of Asa, and ended it in the twenty and sixth, chap. 16. 8.

1 Kings 15:34

in his sin] See v. 26.