mh_parser/vol_split/11 - 1Kings/Chapter 15.xml

<div2 id="iKi.xvi" n="xvi" next="iKi.xvii" prev="iKi.xv" progress="57.40%" title="Chapter XV">
<h2 id="iKi.xvi-p0.1">F I R S T   K I N G S</h2>
<h3 id="iKi.xvi-p0.2">CHAP. XV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iKi.xvi-p1">In this chapter we have an abstract of the
history, I. Of two of the kings of Judah, Abijam, the days of whose
reign were few and evil (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.1-1Kgs.15.8" parsed="|1Kgs|15|1|15|8" passage="1Ki 15:1-8">ver.
1-8</scripRef>), and Asa, who reigned well and long, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.9-1Kgs.15.24" parsed="|1Kgs|15|9|15|24" passage="1Ki 15:9-24">ver. 9-24</scripRef>. II. Of two of the kings
of Israel, Nadab the son of Jeroboam, and Baasha the destroyer of
Jeroboam's house, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.25-1Kgs.15.34" parsed="|1Kgs|15|25|15|34" passage="1Ki 15:25-34">ver.
25-34</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iKi.xvi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15" parsed="|1Kgs|15|0|0|0" passage="1Ki 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iKi.xvi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.1-1Kgs.15.8" parsed="|1Kgs|15|1|15|8" passage="1Ki 15:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.15.1-1Kgs.15.8">
<h4 id="iKi.xvi-p1.6">Abijam's Reign. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 958.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xvi-p2">1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam
the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.   2 Three years
reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name <i>was</i> Maachah,
the daughter of Abishalom.   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p2.1">Lord</span> his God, as
the heart of David his father.   4 Nevertheless for David's
sake did the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p2.2">Lord</span> his God give him a
lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish
Jerusalem:   5 Because David did <i>that which was</i> right
in the eyes of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p2.3">Lord</span>, and turned
not aside from any <i>thing</i> that he commanded him all the days
of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.   6
And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his
life.   7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he
did, <i>are</i> they not written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
  8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in
the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p3">We have here a short account of the short
reign of Abijam the son of Rehoboam king of Judah. He makes a
better figure, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.1-2Chr.13.22" parsed="|2Chr|13|1|13|22" passage="2Ch 13:1-22">2 Chron.
xiii.</scripRef>, where we have an account of his war with
Jeroboam, the speech which he made before the armies engaged, and
the wonderful victory he obtained by the help of God. There he is
called <i>Abijah—My father is the Lord,</i> because no wickedness
is there laid to his charge. But here, where we are told of his
faults, <i>Jah,</i> the name of God, is, in disgrace to him, taken
away from his name, and he is called <i>Abijam.</i> See <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.22.24" parsed="|Jer|22|24|0|0" passage="Jer 22:24">Jer. xxii. 24</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p4">I. Few particulars are related concerning
him. 1. Here began his reign in the beginning of Jeroboam's
eighteenth year; for Rehoboam reigned but seventeen, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.14.21" parsed="|1Kgs|14|21|0|0" passage="1Ki 14:21"><i>ch.</i> xiv. 21</scripRef>. Jeroboam indeed
survived Rehoboam, but Rehoboam's Abijah lived to succeed him and
to be a terror to Jeroboam, while Jeroboam's Abijah (whom we read
of <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.14.1" parsed="|1Kgs|14|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 14:1"><i>ch.</i> xiv. 1</scripRef>) died
before him. 2. He reigned scarcely three years, for he died before
the end of Jeroboam's twentieth year, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.9" parsed="|1Kgs|15|9|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. Being made proud and secure by
his great victory over Jeroboam (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.21" parsed="|2Chr|13|21|0|0" passage="2Ch 13:21">2
Chron. xiii. 21</scripRef>), God cut him off, to make way for his
son Asa, who would be a better man. 3. <i>His mother's name was
Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom,</i> that is, Absalom, David's
son, as I am the rather inclined to think because two other of
Rehoboam's wives were his near relations (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.11.18" parsed="|2Chr|11|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 11:18">2 Chron. xi. 18</scripRef>), one the daughter of
Jerimoth, David's son, and another the daughter of Eliab, David's
brother. He took warning by his father not to marry strangers; yet
thought it below him to marry his subjects, except they were of the
royal family. 4. He carried on his father's wars with Jeroboam. As
there was continual war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, not set
battles (these were forbidden, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.12.24" parsed="|1Kgs|12|24|0|0" passage="1Ki 12:24"><i>ch.</i> xii. 24</scripRef>), but frequent
encounters, especially upon the borders, one making incursions and
reprisals on the other, so there was between Abijam and Jeroboam
(<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.7" parsed="|1Kgs|15|7|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), till
Jeroboam, with a great army, invaded him, and then Abijam, not
being forbidden to act in his own defence, routed him, and weakened
him, so that he compelled him to be quiet during the rest of his
reign, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.20" parsed="|2Chr|13|20|0|0" passage="2Ch 13:20">2 Chron. xiii.
20</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p5">II. But, in general, we are told, 1. That
he was not like David, had no hearty affection for the ordinances
of God, though, to serve his purpose against Jeroboam, he pleaded
his possession of the temple and priesthood, as that upon which he
valued himself, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.10-2Chr.13.12" parsed="|2Chr|13|10|13|12" passage="2Ch 13:10-12">2 Chron. xiii.
10-12</scripRef>. Many boast of their profession of godliness who
are strangers to the power of it, and plead the truth of their
religion who yet are not true to it. <i>His heart was not perfect
with the Lord his God.</i> He seemed to have zeal, but he wanted
sincerity; he began pretty well, but he fell off, and <i>walked in
all the sins of his father,</i> followed his bad example, though he
had seen the bad consequences of it. He that was all his days in
war ought to have been so wise as to make and keep his peace with
God, and not to make him his enemy, especially having found him so
good a friend in his war with Jeroboam, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.18" parsed="|2Chr|13|18|0|0" passage="2Ch 13:18">2 Chron. xiii. 18</scripRef>. <i>Let favour be shown to
the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.26.10" parsed="|Isa|26|10|0|0" passage="Isa 26:10">Isa. xxvi. 10</scripRef>. 2. That yet it was
for David's sake that he was advanced, and continued upon the
throne; it was <i>for his sake</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.4-1Kgs.15.5" parsed="|1Kgs|15|4|15|5" passage="1Ki 15:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>) that God thus <i>set up his
son after him;</i> not for his own sake, nor for the sake of his
father, in whose steps he trod, <i>but for the sake of David,</i>
whose example he would not follow. Note, It aggravates the sin of a
degenerate seed that they fare the better for the piety of their
ancestors and owe their blessings to it, and yet will not imitate
it. They stand upon that ground, and yet despise it, and trample
upon it, and unreasonably ridicule and oppose that which they enjoy
the benefit of. The kingdom of Judah was supported, (1.) That David
might have a lamp, pursuant to the divine ordination of <i>a lamp
for his anointed,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.132.17" parsed="|Ps|132|17|0|0" passage="Ps 132:17">Ps. cxxxii.
17</scripRef>. (2.) That Jerusalem might be established, not only
that the honours put upon it in David's and Solomon's time might be
preserved to it, but that it might be reserved to the honours
designed for it in after-times. The character here given of David
is very great—<i>that he did that which was right in the eyes of
the Lord;</i> but the exception is very remarkable—<i>save only in
the matter of Uriah,</i> including both his murder and the
debauching of his wife. That was a bad matter; it was a remaining
blot upon his name, a bar in his escutcheon, and the reproach of it
was not wiped away, though the guilt was. David was guilty of other
faults, but they were nothing in comparison of that; yet even that
being repented of, though it be mentioned for warning to others,
did not prevail to throw him out of the covenant, nor to cut off
the entail of the promise upon his seed.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.xvi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.9-1Kgs.15.24" parsed="|1Kgs|15|9|15|24" passage="1Ki 15:9-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.15.9-1Kgs.15.24">
<h4 id="iKi.xvi-p5.7">Asa's Reign. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p5.8">b. c.</span> 914.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xvi-p6">9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of
Israel reigned Asa over Judah.   10 And forty and one years
reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name <i>was</i> Maachah,
the daughter of Abishalom.   11 And Asa did <i>that which
was</i> right in the eyes of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p6.1">Lord</span>, as <i>did</i> David his father.   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 <i>being</i> queen, because she
had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt
<i>it</i> by the brook Kidron.   14 But the high places were
not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p6.2">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p6.3">Lord</span>, silver, and gold, and vessels.
  16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel
all their days.   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.   18 Then Asa took all the
silver and the gold <i>that were</i> left in the treasures of the
house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p6.4">Lord</span>, and the treasures
of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his
servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon,
the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
  19 <i>There is</i> a league between me and thee, <i>and</i>
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.   20 So Benhadad
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
<i>thereof,</i> that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in
Tirzah.   22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all
Judah; none <i>was</i> 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, <i>are</i> 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.   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p7">We have here a short account of the reign
of Asa; we shall find a more copious history of it <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.1-2Chr.16.14" parsed="|2Chr|14|1|16|14" passage="2Ch 14:1-16:14">2 Chron. xiv., xv., and xvi.</scripRef>
Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p8">I. The length of it: <i>He reigned
forty-one years in Jerusalem,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.10" parsed="|1Kgs|15|10|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. In the account we have of the
kings of Judah we find the number of the good kings and the bad
ones nearly equal; but then we may observe, to our comfort, that
the reign of the good kings was generally long, but that of the bad
kings short, the consideration of which will make the state of
God's church not altogether so bad within that period as it appears
at first sight. Length of days is in Wisdom's right hand. <i>Honour
thy father,</i> much more thy heavenly Father, <i>that thy days may
be long.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p9">II. The general good character of it
(<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.11" parsed="|1Kgs|15|11|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>Asa did
that which was right in the eyes of the Lord,</i> and that is right
indeed which is so in God's eyes; those are approved whom he
commends. He did <i>as did David his father,</i> kept close to God,
and to his instituted worship, was hearty and zealous for that,
which gave him this honourable character, that he was like David,
though he was not a prophet, or psalmist, as David was. If we come
up to the graces of those that have gone before us it will be our
praise with God, though we come short of their gifts. Asa was like
David, though he was neither such a conqueror nor such an author;
for <i>his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days</i>
(<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.14" parsed="|1Kgs|15|14|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), that is,
he was both cordial and constant in his religion. What he did for
God he was sincere in, steady and uniform, and did it from a good
principle, with a single eye to the glory of God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p10">III. The particular instances of Asa's
piety. His times were times of reformation. For,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p11">1. He removed that which was evil. There
reformation begins; and a great deal of work of that kind his hand
found to do. For, though it was but twenty years after the death of
Solomon that he began to reign, yet very gross corruption had
spread far and taken deep root. Immorality he first struck at:
<i>He took away the sodomites out of the land,</i> suppressed the
brothels; for how can either prince or people prosper while those
cages of unclean and filthy birds, more dangerous than pest-houses,
are suffered to remain? Then he proceeded against idolatry: <i>He
removed all the idols,</i> even those <i>that his father had
made,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.12" parsed="|1Kgs|15|12|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>.
His father having made them, he was the more concerned to remove
them, that he might cut off the entail of the curse, and prevent
the visiting of that iniquity upon him and his. Nay (which redounds
much to his honour, and shows his heart was perfect with God), when
he found idolatry in the court, he rooted it out thence, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.13" parsed="|1Kgs|15|13|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. When it appeared that
Maachah his mother, or rather his grandmother (but called his
<i>mother</i> because she had the educating of him in his
childhood), had an idol in a grove, though she was his mother, his
grandmother,—though, it is likely, she had a particular fondness
for it,—though, being old, she could not live long to patronise
it,—though she kept it for her own use only, yet he would by no
means connive at her idolatry. Reformation must begin at home. Bad
practices will never be suppressed in the country while they are
supported in the court. Asa, in every thing else, will honour and
respect his mother; he loves her well, but he loves God better, and
(like the Levite, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.9" parsed="|Deut|33|9|0|0" passage="De 33:9">Deut. xxxiii.
9</scripRef>) readily forgets the relation when it comes in
competition with his duty. If she be an idolater, (1.) Her idol
shall be destroyed, publicly exposed to contempt, defaced, and
burnt to ashes <i>by the brook Kidron,</i> on which, it is
probable, he strewed the ashes, in imitation of Moses (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.32.20" parsed="|Exod|32|20|0|0" passage="Ex 32:20">Exod. xxxii. 20</scripRef>) and in token of his
detestation of idolatry and his indignation at it wherever he found
it. Let no remains of a court-idol appear. (2.) She shall be
deposed, He removed her from being queen, or from the queen, that
is, from conversing with his wife; he banished her from the court,
and confined her to an obscure and private life. Those that have
power are happy when thus they have hearts to use it well.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p12">2. He re-established that which was good
(<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.15" parsed="|1Kgs|15|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): He
<i>brought into the house of God the dedicated things</i> which he
himself had vowed out of the spoils of the Ethiopians he had
conquered, and which his father had vowed, but lived not to bring
in pursuant to his vow. We must not only cease to do evil, but
learn to do well, not only cast away the idols of our iniquity, but
dedicate ourselves and our all to God's honour and glory. When
those who, in their infancy, were by baptism devoted to God, make
it their own act and deed to join themselves to him and vigorously
employ themselves in his service, this is bringing in the dedicated
things which they and their fathers have dedicated: it is necessary
justice—rendering to God the things that are his.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p13">VI. The policy of his reign. He built
cities himself, to encourage the increase of his people (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.23" parsed="|1Kgs|15|23|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>) and to invite others
to him by the conveniences of habitation; and he was very zealous
to hinder Baasha from building Ramah, because he designed it for
the cutting off of communication between his people and Jerusalem
and to hinder those who in obedience to God would come to worship
there. An enemy must by no means be suffered to fortify a frontier
town.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p14">V. The faults of his reign. In both the
things for which he was praised he was found defective. The fairest
characters are not without some <i>but</i> or other in them. 1. Did
he take away the idols? That was well; <i>but the high places were
not removed</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.14" parsed="|1Kgs|15|14|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>); therein his reformation fell short. He removed all
images which were rivals with the true God or false representations
of him; but the altars which were set up in high places, and to
which those sacrifices were brought which should have been offered
on the altar in the temple, those he suffered to stand, thinking
there was no great harm in them, they having been used by good men
before the temple was built, and being loth to disoblige the
people, who had a kindness to them and were wedded to them both by
custom and convenience; whereas in Judah and Benjamin, the only
tribes under Asa's government which lay so near Jerusalem and the
altars there, there was less pretence for them than in those tribes
which lay more remote. They were against the law, which obliged
them to worship <i>at one place,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.12.11" parsed="|Deut|12|11|0|0" passage="De 12:11">Deut. xii. 11</scripRef>. They lessened men's esteem of
the temple and the altars there, and were an open gap for idolatry
to enter in at, while the people were so much addicted to it. It
was not well that Asa, when his hand was in, did not remove these.
<i>Nevertheless his heart was perfect with the Lord.</i> This
affords us a comfortable note, That those may be found honest and
upright with God, and be accepted of him, who yet, in some
instances, come short of doing the good they might and should do.
The perfection which is made the indispensable condition of the new
covenant is not to be understood of sinlessness (then we were all
undone), but sincerity. 2. Did he bring in the dedicated things?
That was well; but he afterwards alienated the dedicated things,
when he took the gold and silver out of the house of God and sent
them as a bribe to Benhadad, to hire him to break his league with
Baasha, and, by making an inroad upon his country, to give him a
diversion from the building of Ramah, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.18-1Kgs.15.19" parsed="|1Kgs|15|18|15|19" passage="1Ki 15:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>. Here he sinned, (1.) In
tempting Benhadad to break his league, and so to violate the public
faith. If he did wrong in doing it, as certainly he did, Asa did
wrong in persuading him to do it. (2.) In that he could not trust
God, who had done so much for him, to free him out of this strait,
without using such indirect means to help himself. (3.) In taking
the gold out of the treasury of the temple, which was not to be
made use of but on extraordinary occasions. The project succeeded.
Benhadad made a descent upon the land of Israel, which obliged
Baasha to retire with his whole force from Ramah (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.20-1Kgs.15.21" parsed="|1Kgs|15|20|15|21" passage="1Ki 15:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>), which gave Asa
a fair opportunity to demolish his works there, and the timber and
stones served him for the building of some cities of his own,
<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.22" parsed="|1Kgs|15|22|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. But, though
the design prospered, we find it was displeasing to God; and though
Asa valued himself upon the policy of it, and promised himself that
it would effectually secure his peace, he was told by the prophet
that he had done foolishly, and that <i>thenceforth he should have
wars;</i> see <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.16.7-2Chr.16.9" parsed="|2Chr|16|7|16|9" passage="2Ch 16:7-9">2 Chron. xvi.
7-9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p15">VI. The troubles of his reign. For the most
part he prospered; but, 1. Baasha king of Israel was a very
troublesome neighbour to him. He reigned twenty-four years, and all
his days had war, more or less, with Asa, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.16" parsed="|1Kgs|15|16|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. This was the effect of the
division of the kingdoms, that they were continually vexing one
another, and so weakened one another, which made them both an
easier prey to the common enemy. 2. In his old age he was himself
afflicted with the gout: He was <i>diseased in his feet,</i> which
made him less fit for business and peevish towards those about
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p16">VII. The conclusion of his reign. The acts
of it were more largely recorded in the common history (to which
reference is here had, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.23" parsed="|1Kgs|15|23|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>) than in this sacred one. He reigned long, but
finished at last with honour, and left his throne to a successor no
way inferior to him.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iKi.xvi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.25-1Kgs.15.34" parsed="|1Kgs|15|25|15|34" passage="1Ki 15:25-34" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Kgs.15.25-1Kgs.15.34">
<h4 id="iKi.xvi-p16.3">The Reign of Nadab and
Baasha. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p16.4">b. c.</span> 954.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iKi.xvi-p17">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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p17.1">Lord</span>, 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
<i>belonged</i> 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, <i>that</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p17.2">Lord</span>, 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p17.3">Lord</span> God of Israel
to anger.   31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that
he did, <i>are</i> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iKi.xvi-p17.4">Lord</span>, and
walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made
Israel to sin.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iKi.xvi-p18">We are now to take a view of the miserable
state of Israel, while the kingdom of Judah was happy under Asa's
good government. It was threatened that they should be as <i>a reed
shaken in the water</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.14.15" parsed="|1Kgs|14|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 14:15"><i>ch.</i>
xiv. 15</scripRef>), and so they were, when, during the single
reign of Asa, the government of their kingdom was in six or seven
different hands, as we find in this and the following chapter.
Jeroboam was upon the throne in the beginning of his reign and Ahab
at the end of it, and between them were Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri,
Tibni, and Omri, undermining and destroying one another. This they
got by deserting the house both of God and of David. Here we have,
1. The ruin and extirpation of the family of Jeroboam, according to
the word of the Lord by Ahijah. His son Nadab succeeded him. If the
death of his brother Abijah had had a due influence upon him to
make him religious, and the honour done him at his death had
engaged him to follow his good example, his reign might have been
long and glorious; but he <i>walked in the way of his father</i>
(<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.26" parsed="|1Kgs|15|26|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), kept up
the worship of his calves, and forbade his subjects to go up to
Jerusalem to worship, <i>sinned and made Israel to sin,</i> and
therefore God brought ruin upon him quickly, in the second year of
his reign. He was besieging Gibbethon, a city which the Philistines
had taken from the Danites, and was endeavouring to re-take it; and
there, in the midst of his army, did Baasha, with others, conspire
against him and kill him, (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.27" parsed="|1Kgs|15|27|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>), and so little interest had he in the affections of
his people that his army did not only not avenge his death, but
chose his murderer for his successor. Whether Baasha did it upon a
personal pique against Nadab, or to be avenged on the house of
Jeroboam for some affront received from them, or whether under
pretence of freeing his country from the tyranny of a bad prince,
or whether merely from a principle of ambition, to make way for
himself to the throne, does not appear; but he <i>slew him</i> and
<i>reigned in his stead,</i> <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.28" parsed="|1Kgs|15|28|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. And the first thing he did
when he came to the crown was to <i>cut off all the house of
Jeroboam,</i> that he might the better secure himself and his own
usurped government. He thought it not enough to imprison or banish
them, but he destroyed them, left not only no males (as was
foretold, <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.14.10" parsed="|1Kgs|14|10|0|0" passage="1Ki 14:10"><i>ch.</i> xiv.
10</scripRef>), but none that breathed. Herein he was barbarous,
but God was righteous. Jeroboam's sin was punished (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.30" parsed="|1Kgs|15|30|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>); for those that
provoke God do it <i>to their own confusion;</i> see <scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.7.19" parsed="|Jer|7|19|0|0" passage="Jer 7:19">Jer. vii. 19</scripRef>. Ahijah's prophecy was
accomplished (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.29" parsed="|1Kgs|15|29|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:29"><i>v.</i>
29</scripRef>); for no word of God shall fall to the ground. Divine
threatenings are not bugbears. 2. The elevation of Baasha. He shall
be tried awhile, as Jeroboam was. Twenty-four years he reigned
(<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.9" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.33" parsed="|1Kgs|15|33|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), but showed
that it was not from any dislike to Jeroboam's sin that he
destroyed his family, but from malice and ambition; for, when he
had rooted out the sinner, he himself clave to the sin, and
<i>walked in the way of Jeroboam</i> (<scripRef id="iKi.xvi-p18.10" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.34" parsed="|1Kgs|15|34|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>), though he had seen the end of
that way; so strangely was his heart hardened with the
deceitfulness of sin.</p>
</div></div2>