1 Kings 15
15
Abijam King of Judah
1Abijam became king of Judah. This was during the eighteenth year Jeroboam son of Nebat ruled Israel. 2And Abijam ruled in Jerusalem for three years. His mother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 3He did all the same sins his father before him had done. Abijam was not faithful to the Lord his God. In this way he was not like David, his great-grandfather. 4Because the Lord had loved David, the Lord gave Abijam a kingdom in Jerusalem. And the Lord allowed him to have a son to be king after him. The Lord also kept Jerusalem safe. 5David had always done what the Lord said was right. All his life he had always obeyed the Lord’s commands. There was only one time David did not obey the Lord. This was when he sinned against Uriah the Hittite.
6Now there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam during Abijam’s lifetime. 7Everything else Abijam did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. During the time Abijam ruled, there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8And Abijam died and was buried in Jerusalem. Abijam’s son Asa became king in his place.
Asa King of Judah
9During the twentieth year Jeroboam was king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah. 10Asa ruled in Jerusalem for 41 years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah. She was the daughter of Abishalom.
11Asa did what the Lord said was right. This was as his ancestor David had done. 12There were male prostitutes at the places where false gods were worshiped. Asa forced them to leave the country. He also took away the idols that his ancestors had made. 13His grandmother Maacah had made a terrible Asherah idol. So Asa removed her from being queen. He cut down this idol and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14Asa was faithful to the Lord all his life. But he did not destroy the places where false gods were worshiped. 15Asa and his father had given some things to God. They had given gifts of gold, silver and other objects. Asa put all these things in the Temple.
16There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel. 17Baasha fought against Judah. He wanted to stop people from leaving or entering Asa’s country, Judah. So he made the city of Ramah very strong.
18Then Asa took all the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and his own palace. He gave it to his officers. And he sent them to Ben-Hadad king of Aram. (Ben-Hadad was the son of Tabrimmon. And he was the son of Hezion.) Ben-Hadad was ruling in the city of Damascus. 19Asa sent this message: “My father and your father had a peace agreement. I am sending you a gift of gold and silver. Break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will leave my land.”
20Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa. So he sent his army to fight against the towns of Israel. He defeated the towns of Ijon, Dan and Abel Bethmaacah. And he defeated all the land near Lake Galilee and the area of Naphtali. 21Baasha heard about these attacks. So he stopped building up Ramah and returned to Tirzah. 22Then King Asa gave an order to all the people of Judah. Everyone had to help. They carried away all the stones and wood Baasha had been using in Ramah. King Asa used those things to build up Geba and Mizpah. (Geba was in the land of Benjamin.)
23Everything else Asa did is written down. His victories and the cities he built are written down. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Judah. When he became old, he got a disease in his feet. 24Then Asa died. And he was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem. It was the city of David, his ancestor. Then Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became king in his place.
Nadab King of Israel
25Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel. This was during the second year Asa was king of Judah. And Nadab was king of Israel for two years. 26He did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam had caused the people of Israel to sin. Nadab sinned in the same way his father Jeroboam had sinned.
27Baasha son of Ahijah was from the tribe of Issachar. He made plans to kill Nadab. Nadab and all Israel were attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon. So Baasha killed Nadab there. 28This happened during Asa’s third year as king of Judah. And Baasha became the next king of Israel.
Baasha King of Israel
29As soon as Baasha became king, he killed all of Jeroboam’s family. He left no one in Jeroboam’s family alive. This happened as the Lord had said it would. The Lord had said this through his servant Ahijah from Shiloh. 30This happened because King Jeroboam had sinned very much. And he had caused the people of Israel to sin. Jeroboam had made the Lord, the God of Israel, very angry.
31Everything else Nadab did is written down. It is in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. 32There was war between Asa king of Judah and Baasha king of Israel all the time they were kings.
33Baasha son of Ahijah became king of Israel. This was during Asa’s third year as king of Judah. And Baasha ruled in Tirzah for 24 years. 34But Baasha did what the Lord said was wrong. Jeroboam had caused the people of Israel to sin. And Baasha sinned in the same way Jeroboam had sinned.
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1 Kings 15: ICB
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1 Kings 15
15
Abijah’s Reign over Judah
1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah#tc The Old Greek also has the phrase “the son of Rehoboam.” became king over Judah. 2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem.#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.#sn Abishalom (also in v. 10) is a variant of the name Absalom (cf. 2 Chr 11:20). The more common form is used by TEV, NLT. 3 He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been.#tn Heb “his heart was not complete with the Lord his God, like the heart of David his father.” 4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty#tn Heb “gave him a lamp.” in Jerusalem by giving him a son#tc The Old Greek has the plural “his sons.” to succeed him#tn Heb “by raising up his son after him.” and by protecting Jerusalem.#tn Heb “and by causing Jerusalem to stand firm.” 5 He did this#tn The words “he did this” are added for stylistic reasons. because David had done what he approved#tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” and had not disregarded any of his commandments#tn Heb “and had not turned aside from all which he commanded him.” his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. 6 Rehoboam#tc Most Hebrew mss read “Rehoboam”; a few Hebrew mss and the Syriac read “Abijam” (a variant of Abijah). and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s#tn Heb “his”; the referent (Abijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity. lifetime. 7 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.#tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Abijah, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?” Abijah and Jeroboam had been at war with each other. 8 Abijah passed away#tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” The Old Greek also has these words: “in the twenty-eighth year of Jeroboam.” and was buried#tn Heb “and they buried him.” in the city of David. His son Asa replaced him as king.
Asa’s Reign over Judah
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Asa became the king of Judah. 10 He ruled for forty-one years in Jerusalem.#map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. His grandmother#tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors. was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 11 Asa did what the Lord approved#tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” like his ancestor#tn Heb “father,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors. David had done. 12 He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols#tn The word used here, גִלּוּלִים [gillulim], is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as “worthless things” (אֱלִילִים, ’elilim), “vanities” or “empty winds” (הֲבָלִים, havalim). his ancestors#tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 24). had made. 13 He also removed Maacah his grandmother#tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors. from her position as queen because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 14 The high places were not eliminated, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime.#tn Heb “yet the heart of Asa was complete with the Lord all his days.” 15 He brought the holy items that he and his father had made into the Lord’s temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles.#tn Heb “and he brought the holy things of his father and his holy things (into) the house of the Lord, silver, gold, and items.” Instead of “his holy things,” a marginal reading (Qere) in the Hebrew text has “the holy things of [the house of the Lord].”
16 Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other.#tn Heb “There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.” 17 King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah.#tn Heb “and he built up Ramah so as to not permit going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.” 18 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it#tn Heb “King Asa sent it.” to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: 19 “I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made.#tn Heb “[May there be] a covenant between me and you [as there was] between my father and your father.” See, I have sent you silver and gold as a present. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.”#tn Heb “so he will go up from upon me.” 20 Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel.#tn Heb “and Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of the armies which belonged to him against the cities of Israel.” They conquered#tn Heb “he struck down.” Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth.#tn Heb “and all Kinnereth together with all the land of Naphtali.” 21 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying#tn Heb “building.” Ramah and settled down in Tirzah. 22 King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah.#tn Heb “and King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, there was no one exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood which Baasha had built.” King Asa used the materials to build up#tn Heb “and King Asa built with them.” Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah.
23 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.#tn Heb “As for the rest of all the events of Asa, and all his strength and all which he did and the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?” Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease.#tn Heb “Yet in the time of his old age he became sick in his feet.” 24 Asa passed away#tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king.
Nadab’s Reign over Israel
25 In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Jeroboam’s son Nadab became the king of Israel; he ruled Israel for two years. 26 He did evil in the sight of#tn Heb “in the eyes of.” the Lord. He followed in his father’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin.#tn Heb “and he walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
27 Baasha son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, conspired against Nadab#tn Heb “against him”; the referent (Nadab) has been specified in the translation for clarity. and assassinated him in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. This happened while Nadab and all the Israelite army were besieging Gibbethon. 28 Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah and replaced him as king. 29 When he became king, he executed Jeroboam’s entire family. He wiped out everyone who breathed,#tn Heb “and when he became king, he struck down all the house of Jeroboam; he did not leave any breath to Jeroboam until he destroyed him.” just as the Lord had predicted#tn Heb “according to the word of the Lord which he spoke.” through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 This happened because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and which he made Israel commit. These sins angered the Lord God of Israel.#tn Heb “because of Jeroboam which he committed and which he made Israel commit, by his provocation by which he made the Lord God of Israel angry.”
31 The rest of the events of Nadab’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.#tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Nadab, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?” 32 Asa and King Nadab of Israel were continually at war with each other.
Baasha’s Reign over Israel
33 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah; he ruled for twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the sight of#tn Heb “in the eyes of.” the Lord; he followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin.#tn Heb “and he walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
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