1 KINGS LESSON 20
We will begin this lesson I Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year
of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
The name is sometimes spelled Abijam, other times it is spelled
Abijah, or Abia. He was a wicked king. It is strange that this is
dated by Jeroboam, instead of Rehoboam. Jereboam is the king of the
ten tribes. Perhaps, this is saying, that this is 18 years after the
breaking away of the ten tribes. Rehoboam had 28 sons, this is,
probably, his first-born.
I Kings 15:2 "Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his
mother's name [was] Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom."
He ascended the throne in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's
reign, and died in the twentieth year of Jeroboam's reign. Maachah was
a name his mother used at the last, the name she was called by
earlier was Michaiah. She was actually the granddaughter of Abishalom.
Abishalom is almost assuredly speaking of the son of David, Absalom.
I Kings 15:3 "And 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."
David was his great-grandfather. David had sin in his life, but
he was not an idolater. In the sight of God, David was right, because
he was faithful to the LORD. His heart was stayed upon God. David
worshipped the One True God.
I Kings 15:4 "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:"
We know that the love of the LORD for David, is what actually
caused God to keep Judah for the descendents of David. The Light of
the world would come through this tribe to the earth. Jesus, the Light
of the World, will be born into the tribe of Judah. The everlasting
kingship promised to David will culminate in Him. God, also, wanted to
establish Jerusalem as the city of God.
I Kings 15:5 "Because 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."
We would have to say that David did sin, when he had Uriah killed
to get his wife, Bathsheba, for his wife. There were other things like
the numbering of the people, but David loved the LORD with all his
heart. He truly wanted to please the LORD. His heart was pure from his
youth, until his death.
I Kings 15:6 "And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all
the days of his life."
This is not speaking of full scale war, because the LORD had
stopped that at the very beginning of their separation. There were,
from time to time, border problems. Rehoboam was disturbed that the
ten tribes had separated from Judah and Benjamin.
I Kings 15:7 "Now 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."
Abijam had not been warned by a prophet, not to war with
Jeroboam. When he took power, there was war with Judah and the ten
tribes. This book mentioned is not speaking of the Bible, but
chronicles they had written at the time of the happening. Abijam
marched with 400,000 men against Jeroboam, who met him with 800,000
men. He had 14 wives, and 22 sons, and 16 daughters.
I Kings 15:8 " And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried
him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead."
Abijam was given a burial with honor near his father's tomb. His
son, Asa, began to reign in his stead. Asa, did right in the sight of
the LORD. "Asa" is Arabic and means to heal. We will find that Asa is
opposed to idolatry. He worships the True God.
I Kings 15:9 "And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of
Israel reigned Asa over Judah."
Abijam died in the third year of his reign. It appears, that Asa
truly did want to heal this nation.
I Kings 15:10 "And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem.
And his mother's name [was] Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom."
During the reign of Asa, 8 different kings would be on the throne
of the ten tribes. Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, Omri,
and Ahab. The sad thing is that the Israelites {the ten tribes} had no
kings that followed God. Judah had a few good kings, like Asa.
I Kings 15:11 "And Asa did [that which was] right in the eyes of
the LORD, as [did] David his father."
This is very interesting that Asa was a follower of God, since
his father was an evil king, and his mother was an idolater. Notice,
that he was right in the eyes of the LORD. He was not perfect, but his
heart was stayed on God.
I Kings 15:12 "And he took away the sodomites out of the land,
and removed all the idols that his fathers had made."
Romans 1:26 "For this cause God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that
which is against nature:" Romans 1:27 "And likewise also the men,
leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward
another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in
themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." Romans 1:28
"And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God
gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;" "Sodomites" are those who are practicing homosexuals and
lesbians. This sin was so revolting to God, that He gave them over to
a reprobate mind.
I Kings 15:13 "And 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."
In verse 12 above, we saw that he did away with the idols in the
land. Maachah had been acting as queen. He removed her and her idols.
He burned the idol of his queen. He would not tolerate idol worship
wherever it was found. The idol was made of wood, probably, because it
burned.
I Kings 15:14 "But the high places were not removed: nevertheless
Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days."
These high places were not places of idols, or they would have
come down, too. These had, probably, been used in the worship of the
LORD at some time or other. He loved the LORD in his heart, and wanted
to do what was right in the LORD's sight. It is interesting to note,
also, that his love of the LORD remained his whole life.
I Kings 15:15 "And 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."
This is a re-gathering of the things of the temple. These
precious things from his father were things he had brought home, as
spoil from his battles.
I Kings 15:16 "And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of
Israel all their days."
Baasha became king, because he killed Nadab. Baasha was of the
tribe of Issachar. The war mentioned, here, is speaking more of
skirmishes than all out war. They did not get along at all. There were
no alliances between them.
I Kings 15:17 "And 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."
This Ramah is like a fortress to keep the people of Israel from
going to Jerusalem. There were, probably, many Israelites who would
have liked to go to the temple, had it been allowed. Abijah had
conquered the city of Ramah, when he was in power. It appears, that
Baasha had taken it back and built the fort. He did not want any
communication between his people and with Judah.
I Kings 15:18 "Then 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 Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon,
the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,"
This is a very strange thing to do. Asa was in right standing
with the LORD. He could have asked the LORD for help. He, instead,
takes the silver and gold in the treasury of the temple, and his own
gold and silver from the castle, to reach out to a heathen king.
"Ben-hadad" means son of the sun. There were several leaders of Syria,
who were named Ben-hadad. Damascus was the capital of Syria.
I Kings 15:19 "[There 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."
The "gift" was more like a bribe. He actually was hiring Ben-
hadad to come against the ten tribes of Israel. The silver and gold,
if accepted, confirm a league between Syria and Judah. It appeared,
that Baasha was harassing Asa. If Asa and Ben-hadad are allied, Baasha
will leave them alone.
I Kings 15:20 "So Ben-hadad 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 Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with
all the land of Naphtali." I Kings 15:21 "And it came to pass, when
Baasha heard [thereof], that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt
in Tirzah."
When Ben-hadad made league with Asa, it frightened Baasha and he
stopped building on Ramah. It appears, he abandoned it from the next
few verses. Tirzah would be safer for him that Ramah. The taking of
the cities, Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maachah, and Cinneroth was a warning
to Baasha.
I Kings 15:22 "Then 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."
It seems from this, that Asa used the material Baasha had
intended for Ramah, and built up Geba and Mizpah. Geba would have been
the furthest extremity of the southern kingdom. This would be like the
fort at Ramah, but would belong to Asa. Geba would protect the pass.
Mizpah means watch tower, so there is no question what this was used
for. All Judah had to help with the tearing down of Ramah, and the
building of Geba and Mizpah. This needed to be done quickly, so
everyone was required to help.
I Kings 15:23 The 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."
To read of Asa's reign would be a delight, because he was a man
of God. "Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD". Even though this
41 years of reign were successful, we find that King Asa has something
wrong with his feet in his old age. Most believe the disease,
mentioned here, was the gout. Prosperity sometimes brings on gout. The
cause is, generally, believed to be eating too many rich foods.
I Kings 15:24 "And 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."
Asa had an honorable burial. He was righteous in the sight of the
LORD. He was buried near David. Jehoshaphat, we will find, was like
his father. He did right in the sight of the LORD. "Jehoshaphat" means
whom Jehovah judges. At the death of Asa, his son, Jehoshaphat, became
king.
I Kings 15:25 "And 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." I Kings 15:26 "And 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."
Nadab, king of the ten tribes, just reigned 2 years. He was an
evil, idolatrous king. The worst sin of all, is when you cause others
to sin. Leaders should set good examples for their people. Nadab set a
bad example.
I Kings 15:27 "And 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."
Baasha was so evil, that he killed Nadab to get his throne. The
reason the name Ahijah is explained, here, to be of the tribe of
Issachar, is to separate him from the prophet Ahijah. Gibbethon was a
Levitical city in the land of Dan. At the time of the battle, it
belonged to the Philistines. The Levites all went to Judah, when the
division of the tribes was made. The Levites joined Judah, because the
temple was in their territory. They did not want to be cut off from
the temple.
I Kings 15:28 "Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did
Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead."
We clearly see the reason for Baasha killing Nadab. It was to get
his throne.
I Kings 15:29 "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:" I Kings
15:30 "Because 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."
This is speaking of when Baasha reigned. The statement "he left
not to Jeroboam any that breathed" means he killed the women and the
children, as well as the men. He fulfilled the prophecy of the prophet
Ahijah. He had no intention of fulfilling prophecy, however. He did it
out of greed, not to please God, or anyone, other than himself. The
prophecy was pertaining to Jeroboam.
I Kings 15:31 "Now 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?"
Chronicles are records that were kept. They would be of a more
historical nature.
I Kings 15:32 "And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of
Israel all their days." I Kings 15:33 "In 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." I Kings 15:34 "And 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."
Baasha was a very evil king, who reigned 24 years. He fought with
Asa, who was righteous in the sight of the LORD. He was like his
grandfather, Jeroboam. He was an idolater, who led others into
idolatry. Again I will say, The ten tribes of Israel had only evil
kings.
1 Kings 20 Questions
1. What other names was Abijam known by?
2. How many years, after the breaking away of the tribes, did Abijam
begin to reign?
3. How many years did he reign?
4. What was another name for Maachah?
5. Who was her grandfather?
6. Was Abijam a good king, or an evil king?
7. Who does verse 3 compare Abijam with?
8. Why was David right in God's sight?
9. The Light of the world would come through the tribe of ________.
10. Who is the Light?
11. What was the only thing that God had against David?
12. How long was there war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam?
13. What book is mentioned, that has the rest of the acts of Abijam in
it?
14. How many men did Abijam take with him to battle against Jeroboam?
15. How many men did Jeroboam have?
16. Where was Abijam buried?
17. Who took the reign after Abijam?
18. How many years did he reign?
19. Who were the kings of the ten tribes of Israel, while Asa was king
of Judah?
20. Asa did that which was __________ in the eyes of the LORD.
21. What was unusual about this?
22. Verse 12 says, he took away the ___________ out of the land.
23. Quote Romans chapter 1 verses 26, 27 and 28.
24. Who are "sodomites"?
25. Why did he remove Maachah from being queen?
26. What did Asa do with her idol?
27. The _______ _________ were not removed.
28. Asa's heart was ________ with the LORD all of his days.
29. There was war between ___________ and ___________.
30. How did Baashah become king?
31. Why did Baashah build up Ramah?
32. Who did Asa make league with?
33. What does "Ben-hadad" mean?
34. Where did Baashah go from Ramah?
35. What did Asa do with the materials from Ramah?
36. Happy is the ___________ whose God is the LORD.
37. What do most believe was the disease of Asa's feet?
38. What terrible thing did Baashah do to the house of Jeroboam?
39. What are the chronicles mentioned in these lessons?
40. The ten tribes of Israel had only ________ kings.
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