Abijam’s Rule as King of Judah
v1 It was the 18th year of the rule of Jeroboam son of Nebat. At this time, Abijam became king of Judah. v2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Absalom.
v3 He sinned in the same way as his father had done before him. He was not completely loyal to the Lord his God as David his ancestor had been. v4 But because of David, the Lord his God gave David a descendant to rule Jerusalem. The Lord appointed David’s descendant to rule after him, and he made Jerusalem safe. v5 David had done what pleased God. He obeyed all the Lord’s commands except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
v6 The state of war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continued during Abijam’s entire life. v7 The book of the History of the Kings of Judah contains a record of all the events when Abijam ruled. That book records all that Abijam did. There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. v8 When Abijam died, they buried him in the city of David. His son Asa became king after him.
Commentary
Abijam was not like David. He did not serve God. But because of David’s love for God, God allowed David’s descendants to continue to rule in Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles chapter 13 tells us about the war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam described how the people in Jerusalem still obeyed the Lord. Abijam warned the Israelites about their false gods. He told them that God would support the army from Judah. And he asked the Israelites not to fight against them. Jeroboam did not listen. Jeroboam lost the battle and he did not get his power back.
On that occasion, Abijam did well. He trusted God, and he won the battle. But that was not Abijam’s usual behavior. He did not continue to be loyal to God.
We cannot be sure about the reason for Abijam’s sin. Perhaps he was like his grandfather Solomon. Solomon began well, but he did not continue to be loyal to God. Like Solomon, Abijam had many wives (2 Chronicles 13:21).
Or perhaps Abijam expected God’s help because he performed all the religious ceremonies. God wants us to trust him completely. Ceremonies are not enough.
Asa’s Rule as King of Judah
v9 It was the 20th year of King Jeroboam’s rule over Israel when Asa became king of Judah. v10 He ruled in Jerusalem for 41 years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Absalom. v11 Asa did what pleased the Lord. His ancestor David had done this.
v12 All the male priests who offered their bodies for sex had to leave the country. He removed all the idols that his ancestors had made. v13 His grandmother Maacah had made a disgusting idol of Asherah. So he removed her as queen mother. He cut the idol down and he burned it in the valley called Kidron. v14 He did not remove all the places of worship on the high hills. But he remained loyal to the Lord all his life. v15 He placed in the temple the silver and gold. He also placed there the other objects that he and his father had given to God.
v16 King Asa and King Baasha of Israel were always at war while they were in power. v17 Baasha attacked Judah. He made the city called Ramah strong. He did this in order to stop anyone who wished to enter or leave Asa’s territory.
v18 Asa then took all the silver and gold that was still in the Lord’s temple and in Asa’s own palace. He sent it by some of his officials to Damascus. He sent it to Benhadad the king of Syria, who ruled there. He was the son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion. And with the silver and the gold, Asa sent this message: v19 ‘Let us have an agreement’, he said. ‘There was one between our fathers. Here is a gift of gold and silver for you. Now end your agreement with Baasha king of Israel. Then he will stop his attacks on me.’
v20 Benhadad agreed to this. He sent his officers and their armies to attack the towns of Israel. He conquered the towns called Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah and the area near Lake Galilee. He also conquered the whole of Naphtali. v21 When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah. Instead, he went to Tirzah. v22 Then King Asa ordered everyone in Judah to carry away the stones and wood from Ramah. Baasha had used these to make Ramah strong. Asa used the stones and wood to make Mizpah and Geba in Benjamin strong.
v23 You can read about Asa’s other acts and the cities that he built. The information is in the History of the Kings of Judah. When he was old, he had a disease in his feet. v24 He died and people buried him in the city of David his ancestor. Jehoshaphat his son became king after him.
Commentary
Asa ruled for 41 years. He did what his ancestor, David had done. He removed the priests who used their bodies for sex. (They did this as part of an evil religion.) He removed idols. He removed his grandmother as queen mother because she had made an idol. He burnt her idol. He put gold and silver back into the temple. He did not remove all the places of worship on the high hills. But he was sincere because he tried to please God.
But Asa did not trust God completely. The author of 1 Kings records two particular matters where Asa did not trust God:
---1. Asa gave silver and gold to persuade Benhadad to stop his agreement with Baasha of Israel. He used gold and silver from the temple to get help from a king. Asa did not ask for help from God. In 2 Chronicles chapter 16 a prophet told Asa that he was wrong. He said that in future Asa would have wars. Asa put the prophet in prison.
---2. When Asa had a disease in his feet, he did not pray to God. He just asked doctors for help. (See 2 Chronicles 16:12.)
So Asa was a good king who pleased God. But Asa’s faith was weak. Many people today are like him. When they are comfortable, they serve God. But when they have problems, they are not ready to trust God. Instead, they try to deal with their problems by their own efforts. Or they prefer to depend on human help. But we should always trust God completely, in every situation.
Nadab’s Rule as King of Israel
v25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel. He did so in the second year of the rule of Asa king of Judah. He ruled over Israel for two years. v26 He sinned against the Lord, as his father had done. He led Israel into sin.
v27 Baasha son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar plotted against him. He killed him at Gibbethon, a town in the country called Philistia. Nadab and his army were attacking it. v28 Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa’s rule over Judah. Baasha followed Nadab as king.
v29 As soon as he became king, Baasha killed all Jeroboam’s family. None of them remained alive. This happened even as the Lord had told his servant Ahijah from Shiloh, the*prophet. v30 This was because of all the sins that Jeroboam had done. He had also made *Israel *sin. In addition, he had made the Lord, the God of Israel very angry.
v31 You can read about everything else that Nadab did. It is in the book of the History of the Kings of Israel. v32 Asa king of Judah and Baasha king of Israel were always at war as long as they ruled.
Commentary
Nadab continued to sin and to give honor to idols as Jeroboam had done. Baasha attacked and killed him, and all of Jeroboam’s family. So Ahijah’s prophecy came true. When God warns us about something, we should listen!
Baasha’s Rule as King of Israel
v33 Baasha the son of Ahijah became king of all Israel. This happened in the third year of the rule of Asa, king of Judah. Baasha ruled for 24 years. v34 He sinned against the Lord and he led Israel into sin. He was like King Jeroboam before him.
|
|
