: 3 And he walked in all the sins 30. there was war &c.] God commanded Rehoboam, at 1 Kings xii. 23, not to make war upon the Israelites still, of course, he was permitted to defend his own people, in case they were attacked; and, as the two nations were now rivals, it was scarcely possible but that frequent acts of hostility should take place upon their borders. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XV. This chapter is to be compared with 2 Chron. xiii, xiv, xv, and xvi. Ver. 1.—in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam] It is here stated, that Abijam began to reign in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam, and reigned three years; which may seem to disagree with the statement at ver. 9, that in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, Asa reigned over Judah. But it is usual in Scripture, as in other writings, to take a part of the year for the whole. Thus Abijam began to reign in some part of Jeroboam's eighteenth year, and died in some part of the twentieth, and thus was reckoned to have reigned three years. Bp. Patrick. 2. was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.] It is thought by some that Abishalom here is another way of spelling Absalom, and that this Maachah was the granddaughter of Absalom by Tamar his daughter; for a granddaughter in Scripture is frequently called a daughter. Dr. Wall. 4.- give him a lamp in Jerusalem,] The meaning of this expression is, that He continued the kingdom in the posterity of David. Bp. Patrick. See note at chap. xi. 36, where is a similar expression. 5. turned not aside &c.] He was not carried into any heinous and enormous crime, by which his profession was notoriously blemished, all the days of his life, excepting into that murder of Uriah the Hittite, and the sins which flowed from it. Bp. Hall, Abijam's wicked reign. 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. Before CHRIST 958. 4 Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a || lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his Or, candle. son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 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 b 2 Sam. 11. of Uriah the Hittite. b 6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 4. & 12. 9. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chro- c 2 Chron. 13. nicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 3. 955. 8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son a 2 Chron. reigned in his stead. 9 And in the twentieth year of 14. 1. David, without all doubt, was guilty of many other sins, besides the murder of Uriah, many of which are recorded in Scripture; as in the matter of Nabal and Mephibosheth, and the numbering of the people, for which God was so angry with him, that He punished him with a severe plague among the people he had numbered. But for these and other such sins, he had brought his trespass offerings, and so they were atoned and expiated, and therefore imputed to him no longer : as it is particularly recorded in that of his numbering the people; for he no sooner offered his burnt offerings and peace offerings, but "the Lord was intreated for the land," 2 Sam. xxiv. 25. And, therefore, notwithstanding his other sins, he was looked upon, in the eye of the law, as not having "turned aside," save only in the matter of Uriah. This latter sin, indeed, was so heinous, that the law had provided for it no propitiatory sacrifice, as he himself confesses in the exercise of his repentance for it, Psalm li. 16, "Thou delightest not in burnt offerings," that is, for such sins as these are; they being so great that nothing less than "a broken spirit and a contrite heart" will be accepted as a sacrifice for them, ver. 17. Bp. Beveridge. Many sins and miscarriages are registered of David, as well as this matter of Uriah; yet, as if all these were nɔthing in comparison of this one, this one alone is put in by the Holy Ghost, by way of exception, and so inserted as an exception in the testimony which we find given of him in the passage before us. not aside from any thing," &c. that is, he turned not aside so foully and so contemptuously, so presumptuously and so provokingly, in any other thing, as he did in that business of Uriah. All his ignorances and negligences, and inconsiderations and infirmities, are passed over in silence; only this great presumptuous sin standeth up as a pillar or monument, erected to 66 He turned Asa's good reign. Before CHRIST 955. I That is, grandmother's. about 951. e 2 Chron. 15. 16. ↑ Heb. cut off. ↑ Heb. holy. CHAP. XV. Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa 10 And forty and one years reign- 11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. e 12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 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. 14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. 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. 16¶ And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. his perpetual shame in that particular, by which all succeeding generations might take warning and example. Bp. Sanderson. 13. Asa destroyed her idol, &c.] This was a strong proof of his pious disposition, that he would not suffer so near a relation to retain her idols, or to remain with any authority in the state; "he cut down her idol, and burnt it;" that is, treated it with the utmost contempt. Bp. Patrick. 14. — the high places were not removed:] What high places? There were some dedicated to the worship of false gods; these Asa took away; see 2 Chron. xiv. 3: there were others misdevoted to the worship of the true God; these he suffers to stand. There was gross idolatry in the former, there was weak will-worship in the latter. While he opposes impiety, he winks at errour. Yet "nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect." God overlooks weaknesses where He sees truth. How pleasing a thing is sincerity, when, in favour of it, the mercy of our just God passes over many an errour. O God, let our hearts be upright, though our feet slide. The fall cannot, through thy grace, be deadly, however it may shame or pain us. Bp. Hall. — Asa's heart was perfect] See the notes on Gen. vi. 9; Deut. xviii. 13. A "perfect heart" in Scripture means, a heart not perfect in respect of degrees, for such a perfection is not attainable in this life, but perfect in respect of parts: an entire heart, a heart wherein no part is wholly wanting, howsoever weak and a great deal short of due proportion. Thus Joshua says, "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth" (according to the Hebrew, in perfectness and truth :)" and put away the gods which your fathers served," Josh. xxiv. 14; which was as much as to say, Serve the Lord wholly, and quite renounce all service The war between him and Baasha. Before CHRIST 17 And Baasha king of Israel went | 19 There is a league between me 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. 21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off 16. 2. + Heb. go up. to others. So Hezekiah in his sickness, "Lord, I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight," 2 Kings xx. 3. He does not say he had done perfect actions, or performed perfect service, for who can do such? but yet that he walked with a perfect heart, that is, with a loyal heart, before God. So it is here said, that though Asa failed in his reformation, and "the high places were not removed, nevertheless his heart was perfect," that is, loyal" with the Lord all his days." Jos. Mede. See notes at 1 Kings xi. 4. 17.—and built Ramah,] It appears that, after Asa's great victory over the Ethiopians, (see 2 Chron. xiv, and xvi,) a considerable number of the Israelites fell off from Baasha, who thereupon resolved to make war upon Judah, and prevent a further defection of his subjects; accordingly he fortified Ramah, a city in the tribe of Benjamin, lying on the confines of the two kingdoms, that he might hinder all communication between his people and the people of Judah. Bp. Patrick. 18. Then Asa took all the silver &c.] In cases of extreme danger, it was always held lawful to employ sacred things in the defence of one's country: but in this case there was no such necessity; God had appeared wonderfully in Asa's defence against an enemy much more powerful than Baasha, (see 2 Chron. as above,) and had promised him protection under all circumstances, if he would but adhere to his service. Yet forgetting all this, and betraying a distrust of that God whose power and goodness he had lately experienced, he stript the temple of its treasures, and bribed a heathen prince to come to his assistance, and break his league with another, to whom he stood engaged. He was reproached for his conduct by the Prophet Hanani, as is related at 2 Chron. xvi. 7, &c. Stackhouse. Nadab's wicked reign. Before I. KINGS. CHRIST building of Ramah, and dwelt in about 951. Tirzah. + Heb. free. 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. 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 he age was diseased in his feet. 24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the h Matt. 1. 8, city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead. called Josaphat. 954. + Heb. reigned. i Chap. 14. 10. 29. 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. 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. 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. 28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 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 he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed,] This was the just judgment of God upon the family of Jeroboam, who, having set up an idolatrous worship in the kingdom of the ten tribes, was punished in the persons of his family; as Solomon, who had been guilty of a like sin, was punished in the person of his son Rehoboam: but with this difference, that God preserved the family of Solomon upon the throne, while that of Jeroboam was extinguished; Baasha having destroyed the whole house of that prince, without leaving one person alive, as the Prophet Ahijah had foretold. This curse, which so visibly fell upon the family of Jeroboam, was to the Israelites an evident proof that God greatly abhorred the idolatry which Jeroboam had introduced, and that the family of David should always subsist. God takes severe vengeance on those who cause iniquity to abound; their glory never lasts long; the wrath of God pursues them, and even often falls heavy upon their posterity. Ostervald. Jehu's prophecy against Baasha. saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite : 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. 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? 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 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. 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. Before CHRIST 954. 953. THEN the word of the LORD about 930. to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; according unto the saying &c.] Providence hereby fulfilling the prediction concerning Jeroboam and his family, as a just retribution for his unparalleled wickedness, idolatry, and injustice. Pyle. But, as Baasha himself "walked in the way of Jeroboam," ver. 34, it is sufficiently evident that he had not cut off Jeroboam's family from any religious motive or hatred of idolatry, but merely out of worldly policy to secure himself in his usurped throne. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XVI. ver. 2. Forasmuch as I made thee prince over my people] It has been asked, how Baasha's exaltation to the kingdom can be ascribed to God, when he manifestly obtained it by cruelty and treachery. But it should be considered, not only that by the permission of God only can the wicked designs of men ever succeed, but also that, though the manner of invading the kingdom was from himself and his own wicked heart, yet the transferring of the kingdom from Nadab to him Zimri executeth it. Before CHRIST CHAP. XVI. 3 Behold, I will take away the| about 930. posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. a Chap. 15. 29. 930. 930. c 6 So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. 7 And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him. 8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. 9 And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza + Heb. which steward of his house in Tirzah. was from God, who by his providential decree disposed of all occasions, and of the hearts of the soldiers and people so, that Baasha might have the opportunity of executing his judgments on Nadab, and of obtaining a quiet succession to the kingdom. Stackhouse. 3.- make thy house like the house of Jeroboam] This threat was remarkably executed: for, as Nadab the son of Jeroboam reigned but two years, (chap. xv. 25,) so Elah the son of Baasha reigned no more, ver. 10; and, as Nadab was killed with the sword, so was Elah. Thus there was a wonderful resemblance between Jeroboam and Baasha, in their lives and in their deaths, in their sons and in their family. Bp. Patrick. 7. And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu &c.] The command having been given to Jehu, it is here related that he executed it, and delivered the message to Baasha, Zimri burneth himself. 12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, 13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel ? 15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, 19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 21 ¶ Then were the people of Is Before CHRIST 929. + Heb. by the hand of. 929. 929. some time before he died: which is said to have been done "by the hand of Jehu," because he was the minister of God in this business. Bp. Patrick. 12. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha,] We see clearly, in the series of all these kings of Israel, that Divine vengeance pursues the wicked, and particularly wicked princes. When God has made use of them to do justice, and to execute the decrees of his providence, He cuts them off and destroys them one by the other. But we must take notice, that all these kings, notwithstanding the warnings given them by God, and the examples they had before their eyes, continued to offend Him, by keeping up idolatry in their kingdom. for reasons of state, and on principles of false policy. When men do only consult their passions and their interest, and worldly considerations prevail with them, Omri's and Ahab's Before CHRIST 929. 925. + Heb. Shomeron. 918. I. KINGS. rael divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. wicked reigns. year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. Before CHRIST 918. was it a light 23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. 24 And he bought the hill Sama-ter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, ria of Shemer for two talents of sil- and went and served Baal, and worver, and built on the hill, and called shipped him. the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill,+Samaria. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had + Heb. been a light thing for him to walk in thing, &c. the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daugh 25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead. 29 ¶ And in the thirty and eighth nothing can overcome their obstinacy; the most express warnings and the most remarkable instances of Divine justice are useless and unprofitable, and therefore the Lord is at length provoked to cast them off, and forsake them utterly. Ostervald. 24. - called the name-Samaria.] From this time, Samaria became the royal or capital city of the kingdom of Israel, till its final period; and the kingdom was in consequence frequently called the kingdom of Samaria. This city underwent two important sieges under Benhadad and Shalmaneser. In aftertimes, Herod the Great rebuilt and enlarged the city, so that it is conjectured to have exceeded Jerusalem in extent. There now remain of it only a few cottages, and convents inhabited by Greek monks. Dr. Wells. 29. in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah] It should be observed, that Asa king of Judah had now seen no less than six kings of Israel dead, some by a natural death, but in great ignominy and reproach, by the courses of a vicious life; and others destroyed, with their whole families, by the hands of usurpers, as lewd and wicked as themselves, all suffering the just recompense of their ingratitude and disobedience against the laws of Heaven, while he had enjoyed, all the while, a reign of thirty-eight years, in such blessings of peace as are the usual consequences of equitable and religious government. Pyle. 30. And Ahab-did evil &c.] Jeroboam's crimes were 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according d Josh. 6. to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. 26. little in comparison of those of this monster of iniquity. Jeroboam did not absolutely renounce the true God, but only worshipped Him with superstitious inventions of his own; but Ahab set Him in a manner at defiance, and even abolished his worship, marrying Jezebel, one of the young princesses of the Zidonians, who, as will appear in the history, was a woman of so impetuous and ungovernable a spirit, as to hurry him into the commission of the most tyrannical actions against his subjects, and to erect an idol-temple, with its altars and priests, in the royal city, and to establish the open and professed service of the worst degrees of idolatry, which he encouraged by his own example and that of his whole court. Pyle. 34. In his days did Hiel-build Jericho :] See notes on Josh. vi. 26. Hiel, being an inhabitant of Beth-el, lived in the very seat of idolatry, and was probably deeply infected with it. He either did not know (because ignorant of the law, which was now little read) the judgments of God denounced against the rebuilder of Jericho, or he was so impious as not to regard them, believing no other God but Baal. He soon however found those judgments to be true. This is a most remarkable instance of the certainty of Divine threatenings, as the sentence, though pronounced 440 years before, was now fulfilled in all its circumstances: and assuredly it ought to have been an awful warning to the whole nation, not to despise the long-suffering and patience of God, who, |