1 Kings 15

2. Three years. A comparison of vers. 1 and 9 shows that Abijam reigned but part of the third year.

Maachah. “Abishalom” is the same name as “Absalom.” In 2 Chron. xi. 20, Maachah is called “the daughter of Absalom”; and in 2 Chron. xiii. 2, “Michalah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah.” Jewish writers suppose that Absalom the son of David is here intended, that his daughter Tamar was married to Uriel, and that consequently Maachah was his granddaughter. The term “daughter” is used in a wide sense, like “father” in ver. 3, and “mother” in vers. 10 to 13, where it means grandmother.

6. Rehoboam. Several manuscripts, with the Targum and the Arabic version, read “Abijam.” The Syriac has “Abia the son of Rehoboam.”

13. Maachah. As the king’s mother, she had been, during Abijah’s reign, the chief lady of the land, and would have still retained her rank under her grandson Asa, but for the cause here stated.

an idol in a grove. Literally, “an abominable thing for an Asherah” (R.V.). The use of this word, found only here and in the parallel passage in Chron., seems to intimate something peculiarly hateful.

14 the high places. The high places devoted to idolatrous worship were destroyed (see 2 Chron. xiv. 3); but there were others apparently used in the worship of the true God, though sacrifices could legally be offered only in the place which God had appointed for the purpose (Deut. xii. 13, 14). These were not generally suppressed till the time of Hezekiah (see 2 Kings xii. 3; xviii. 4).

Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord. This refers not to his whole conduct, in which there were some serious blemishes, but to his sincere adherence to the appointed worship of God.

15 the things which his father had dedicated. Perhaps booty obtained in the war with Jeroboam.

17 and built Ramah. Ramah was six miles north of Jerusalem, just on the confines of the two kingdoms, in the great Gophna pass, which formed the only highway between Jerusalem and the central portion of Israel. The town existed long before; but Baasha repaired and fortified it.

18 king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad. We find, from 2 Chron. xvi. 7, that Asa incurred the Divine displeasure by this application to Syria, which showed a want of trust in Jehovah, and a disposition to rely on human aid.

20. Ijon. This was the extreme north of Palestine, afterwards ravaged by Tiglath-pileser (see 2 Kings xv. 29; Isa. viii. 22, and note). Cinneroth or Chinneroth lay on the west of the Sea of Galilee, and was another name for Gennesaret.

22. Mizpah. On the northern spur of Olivet, near the modern Shafat. In the time of Jeremiah (xli. 9), there was still existing near Mizpah a pit, or fosse, “which Asa the king had made across the valley for fear of Baasha king of Israel.”

27. Gibbethon. Gibbethon was a Levitical city in the tribe of Dan (see Josh. xix. 44; xxi. 23). The Philistines had probably taken possession of it recently, upon its being abandoned by the Levites, who were supplanted by the priests of the golden calves (see 2 Chron. xi. 14-17). It has been identified with the modern Kibbiah.