History · Chapter 15 of 22

1 Kings 15

Abijam reigns briefly over Judah in his father's sins, yet for David's sake God preserves a lamp in Jerusalem. His son Asa follows, doing right like David, removing idols and even deposing his idolatrous grandmother, though the high places remain. Asa allies with Syria against Baasha of Israel. In the north, Nadab and then Baasha reign in evil, and Baasha wipes out Jeroboam's house, fulfilling prophecy.

What happens in 1 Kings 15

The chapter surveys several reigns. Abijam rules Judah three years, walking in his father's sins, yet for David's sake God gives him a lamp in Jerusalem and a son to succeed him. Asa then reigns forty-one years and does right in God's eyes like David: he removes the male cult prostitutes and the idols his fathers made, and even deposes his grandmother Maachah for her idol, burning it at the Kidron. Yet the high places remain, though Asa's heart stays wholly with the LORD.

Warring with Baasha of Israel, Asa strips the temple and palace treasures to hire Benhadad of Syria, who attacks Israel and relieves the pressure. In the north, Jeroboam's son Nadab reigns two evil years before Baasha conspires against him, kills him, seizes the throne, and destroys all of Jeroboam's house, fulfilling Ahijah's word. Baasha too does evil.

1 Kings 15 in context

Kings now settles into its regnal pattern, alternating between the thrones of Judah and Israel and judging each king by whether he did right or evil in the LORD's eyes. The recurring measure is David, the standard of faithfulness. Judah's line, though flawed, keeps its lamp by covenant grace; Israel's kings lurch through violent coups.

Baasha's slaughter of Jeroboam's house fulfills Ahijah's prophecy from chapter fourteen, showing the sure outworking of God's word even through bloody usurpation.

Main themes of 1 Kings 15

1 Kings 15 (KJV)

1Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 2Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3And he 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 did the LORD his God give 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 eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7Now 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? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. 9And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. 10And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 11And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. 12And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. 14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 15And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels. 16And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18Then 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 delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 19There is 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 may depart from me. 20So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. 22Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. 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 in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. 25And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. 26And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 27And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. 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 house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: 30Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 31Now 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? 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 to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years. 34And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

Verses to carry from 1 Kings 15

“Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:”1 Kings 15:4

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.”1 Kings 15:11

“And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:”1 Kings 15:29

Reflection

Asa's reform was real but incomplete, the high places still standing, yet God called his heart perfect with the LORD. That is encouraging for anyone discouraged by unfinished areas of obedience.

God looks first at the wholeness of the heart's devotion, not flawless performance. Give him your whole heart today, and keep tearing down the idols you can, trusting his grace with the rest.

A prayer from 1 Kings 15