1 Kings 15

Abiam reigned and followeth his fathers sins verse 1 &c. nevertheless God keepeth his promise 4 Abiam dieth 7 Asa reigneth in his stead who causeth a reformation to be made both in war and manner of his subjects 9 he is warred against the Baesa 16 is assisted of Benhadad 20 he dieth leaving Jehosaphath his son in his stead 23 Nadab reigneth over Israel 25 Bayesa stayeth him and destroyeth his fathers house and reigneth in his stead. 27.

1. Now in the eighteenth year of king Jerobeam the son of Nebat Abiam [otherwise called Abia 2 Chronicles 12:16 and 13.1 &c.] became king over Judah[see 2 Chronicles 13:1.]

2. He reigned three years at Jerusalem [beginning from the eighteenth year of Jerubeams reign verse 1 and ending with the twentieth see below on verse 9] and his mothers names was Maacha [called also Machaja 2 Chronicles 13:2] a daughter of Abisalom [called also Absalom 2 Chronicles 11:21 some think him to have been the son of David many others another man of that name who was of Gibea otherwise called also Uriel 2 Chronicles 13:2 see the annotate there.]

3. And he walked in all the sins of his father which he had done before him and his heart was not perfect [see above chapter 8 on verse 6] with the Lord his God as the heart of David his father was [see above chapter 11 on verse 36.]

4. But for David's sake [See above chapter 11. on ver. 12.] did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, raising up his son after him,and establishing Jerusalem. [viz. in its former political and ecclesiastical estage, preserving therein the Kingly authority, with the remainders of the true Religion and pure worship of God.]

5. Because David had done that which was right in the eyes of the Lord [so below verse 11 see above chapter 11 on verse 33] and had not turned aside from all that he had commanded him all the days of his life but only in ten matter of Uria the Hethite[understand this exception in respect of very gross sins which are done with full knowledge of that which God hath forbidden without precedent or foregoing inconsiderateness forgetfulness of judgment.]

6. And there was war between Rebabeam and between Jerobeam all the days of his life [viz. of Rehabeam life of this war there is also mention made above chapter 14.30 the same is here again repeated to shew that Abiam continued the same war as appeareth in the following verse and 2 Chronicles 13:3.]

7. Now the rest of the acts of Abiam and all that he did is that not written in the book of Chronicles of the kings of Judah [see above chapter 14 on verse 19] there was also war between Abiam and between Jerobeam.

8. And Abiam fell asleep [see above chapter 1 on verse 21 and Deuteronomy 31 on verse 16] with his father and they buried in the city of David [see above chapter 2 on verse 10] and Asa his son reigned in his stead [see 2 Chronicles 14:1.]

9. In the twentieth year of Jerobeam [viz. about the end of this year]the king of Israel Asa became king over Judah.

10. And he reigned one and forty years at Jerusalem and his mothers name was Maacha [understand of it of his grandmothers name so below verse 13 for she was the mother of Abiam his father above verse 2 thus among the Hebrews not only the immediate parents which a man is properly born but also those that be reckoned up higher in a straight line are called fathers and mothers see the following verse &c.] a daughter of Abisalom [see n verse 2.]

11. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord[see above chapter 11 on verse 33] as did David his father [viz. his grandfather Rehabeams grandfather.]

12. For he took away the buggerers [see Deuteronomy 23 on verse 17] out of the land [see below 1 Kings 22:46] and removed all the dung-gods [see Leviticus 26 on verse 30] which his father had made[namely his father had made [namely his father Abiam his grandfather Rehabeam and his great grand father Solomon.]

13. Yea even his mother Maacha her he also deposed that she should be no queen [see of this word above chapter 11 on verse 19 Heb. from all government and authority which she as widow of king Rehabeam and as mother of his father abeam had taken upon her others he also removed from the queen that is from his wife that he might not be corrupted by her] because she had made an abominable idol [the Hebrew word signifieth the trembling of joints and fear of heart so this idols is called because he terrified men both in 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 Chronicles 15:16] and burnt him [viz. after he had broken him in pieces and ground him to powder 2 Chronicles 15:16] and burnt him [viz. after he had broken him in pieces and ground him to powder 2 Chronicles 15:16] by the brook Kidron [see above chapter 2 on verse 37.]

14. The high places [see Leviticus 26 on verse 30] indeed were not taken away yet the heart of as a was perfect[see above chapter 8 on verse 61 and understand this perfection and uprightness of the king properly in respect of the his affection inclination and zeal in and for the pure worship of God although in ten residue of his life he had several infirmities and imperfections]with the Lord all his days.

15. And he brought into the house of the Lord the hallowed things [see Leviticus 5:15] of his father and his own[this word his is here inserted out of 2Chroniclers 15.18] hallowed things silver and vessels and gold.

16. And there was between Asa and between Baesa the king of Israel all their days [viz. except the first year that they reigned together for Judah was quiet the first ten years under the reign of Asa 2 Chronicles 14:1 and Baesa began to reign over Israel in the third year of king Asa below verse 28 or must be said that though perhaps there were in the first years of the king some falling out of both sides yet there was no perfect war between them compare 2 Chronicles 14 the annotate on verse 1.]

17. For Baesa king f Israel went up against Judah and built Rama [a city lying 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] that he might not suffer any to go out and come into Asa king of Judah [Heb. not to suffer the person going out and the person coming into Asa &c. understand of Benjamin Ephraim Manasseh and other adjacent tribes out of which many when they saw Asa minded the pure worship of God came over to him to serve the Lord at Jerusalem according to his word 2Chroncles 15.9 now to hinder this king Baesa caused his city of Rama to be fortified compare herewith above chapter 12 verse 26,27 &c.]

18. Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasures of the house of the Lord [viz. from the time of Rahabeam see above chapter 14.26 and compare herewith the annotate upon it.] and the treasuers of the kings house and delivered them into the hand of his servant [see Genesis 20 on verse 8] and the king of Asa sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion [some conceive this man to have been the same who above chapter 11 on verse 23 is called Reson] king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus [see Genesis 14 on verse 15] saying:

19. There is a covenant between me and between thee between my father and between thy father[although Rezon had been an enemy to Israel as long as Solomon had lived above chapter 11.25yet it seemeth by these words that after the division of the Kingdom he was at peace and league of both kings] behold i send thee a present go thy ways disannul thy ways with Baesa king of Israel that he may depart [Heb. go up] from against me.

20. And Benhadad hearkened the king Asa and sent the commanders of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel and smote Aon[a city according to the opinion of some lying in the tribe of Aser other places in the tribe of Naphthali see of this city also 2Kings 15.29 & 2 Chronicles 16:4] and Dan [see Genesis 14 on verse 14 and Abel-beth-Maacha [otherwise called Abel Maim 2 Chronicles 16:4] and all the Chinneroth [a country lying in Naphtali about the sea of Genesareth see Joshua 11:2] with all the land of Napthali.

21. And it came to pass when Baesa heard it that eh ceased from building Rama and he remained at Tirza [see of this city above chapter 14 on verse17.]

22. Then the king of Asa called Proclamation to be made throughout all Judah [Heb. caused all Judah to hear] none was free[Heb. innocent guiltness pure that is none might plead any excuse to tarry behind understand any that 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 commissioners were to judge] that they should carry away the stones of Rama and the wood thereof wherewith Baesa had builded and King Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin [a city of the tribe of Benjamin lying on the borders of Ephraim upon an hill Joshua 18:24 alloted to the Levites Joshua 21:17 in the days of king Joshua it was in the north borders of the kingdom of Judah 2Kings 23.8] and Mizpa [see of this city Judges 11:11.]

23. Now the rests of all the acts of Asa and all his might and all that he did and the cities that he built are not they written in the book of Chronicles of the kings of Judah but in the time of the old age [viz. in the three last years of his reign as appeareth by 2 Chronicles 16 on verse 12,13] he was diseased [in which disease he sought more to the physician then to God 2 Chronicles 16:13]in his feet[which is conceived to have been the Gout.]

24. And Asa slept with his fathers and buried with his fathers in the city of David [see above chapter 2 on verse 10] his father and Johasaphat his son became king in his stead.

25. Now Nadab the son of Jerobeam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah and he reigned two years over Israel [understand not two years complete as appeareth by the following 28 and 33 verses.]

26. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the lord[see above chapter 11 on verse 6] and walked in the way of his father [to walk in the way of his ancestors is to follow them either in that which was good that is in their fath and good works 1Samuel 8.3 2kings 22.2 2 Chronicles 17:3 or in that which is evil that is in their unbelief and sins as here and below verse 34 and chapter 15 on verse 19 & 22.53] and in his sins [understand the sin of idolatry chapter 14 on verse 16] wherewith he had made Israel to sin.

27. And Baesa the son of Abia [another man different from Abia the prophet of Silo above chapter 11.29 and from Abia Solomon’s scribe above chapter4.3 and from Abia the priest 1Samuel 14.3&c.] of the house of Issachar [that is of the tribe of Issachar thus its said the house of Ephraim Judges 10:9 the house of Judah Hoseah1.7 the house of Levi Psalms 135:20&c.] made a conspiracy against him [the Hebrew word rendered here conspiracy signifieth properly to bind to tie therefore when its used of the mind of men its taken sometimes in a good sense for a confederacy Genesis 44:30 but very frequently for a combination of enemies against persons or state as here and 1Samuel 22 on verse 8 and below chapter 16verse 9,20 & 2Kings 10.9 & 12.20 Nehemiah 4:8 Amos 7:10] and Baesa smote him at Gibbethon which is the Philistines city when Nedab and all the Israel besieged Gibbethon [a city lying in the tribe of Dan Joshua 19:44 alloted to the Levites a place of habitation Joshua 21:23 but subdued and inhabited by the Philistines and therefore now besieged therefore was afterwards reassumed by the Israelites see below chapter 16,17.]

28. And Baesa slew him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and became king in his stead .

29. Now it came to pass when he reigned that he smote all the house [that is family see above chapter 14 on verse 10] of Jerobeam he left nothing of Jerobeam that had breathe [Heb. he left not all every breath of Jerobeam that is he let no man of Jerobeam’s family remain so the word breathe is taken for man Deuteronomy 20:16 Joshua 10:40 &11.14] until he had destroyed him [viz. Jerobeam or until he had destroyed to wit the house that is the family of Jerubeam] according to the word of the Lord which he had spoken by the ministry of his servant Abia the Solonite [this is not to be applied to the intent and purpose of Baesa as if in destroying Jerobeam but the meaning is that God by the cruel tyranny of Baesa fulfilled the word of the prophecies and punished the sins of Jerobeam so below chapter 16 on verse 13.]

30. For the sins of Jerobeam who sinned and who made Israel to sin [so above chapter 14 verse 16 see the annotate] and for the provocation whereby he had provoked the Lord God of Israel.

31. Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did is that not written in the book of Chronicles of the kings of Israel?[see above chapter 14 on verse 19.]

32. And there was war between Asa and between Baesa the king of Israel all their days .

33. In the third year of Asa king of Judah Baesa the son of Abia became king over all Israel at Tirba and reigned [this is here inserted out of the full entire phrase which we have 2 Samuel 2:10 item above here verse 9.10,25 below chapter 16.8&c. and here the word reigning signifieth how long a king reigned lasted when it is used of the beginning of the king reign then we translate it became king] four and twenty years.

34. And did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord [see above chapter 11 on verse 6] and walked in the way of Jerobeam and in his sin wherewith he had made Israel to sin [see above on verse 6.]