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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T K I N G S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have an abstract of the history,
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I. Of two of the kings of Judah, Abijam, the days of whose reign were
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few and evil
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>),
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and Asa, who reigned well and long,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:9-24">ver. 9-24</A>.
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II. Of two of the kings of Israel, Nadab the son of Jeroboam, and
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Baasha the destroyer of Jeroboam's house,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:25-34">ver. 25-34</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Abijam's Reign.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 958.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat
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reigned Abijam over Judah.
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2 Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name
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<I>was</I> Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
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3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had
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done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his
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God, as the heart of David his father.
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4 Nevertheless for David's sake did the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his God give him a
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lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish
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Jerusalem:
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5 Because David did <I>that which was</I> right in the eyes of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and turned not aside from any <I>thing</I> that he commanded him
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all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the
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Hittite.
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6 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days
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of his life.
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7 Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did,
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<I>are</I> they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings
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of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
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8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the
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city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a short account of the short reign of Abijam the son of
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Rehoboam king of Judah. He makes a better figure,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:1-22">2 Chron. xiii.</A>,
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where we have an account of his war with Jeroboam, the speech which he
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made before the armies engaged, and the wonderful victory he obtained
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by the help of God. There he is called <I>Abijah--My father is the
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Lord,</I> because no wickedness is there laid to his charge. But here,
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where we are told of his faults, <I>Jah,</I> the name of God, is, in
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disgrace to him, taken away from his name, and he is called
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<I>Abijam.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+22:24">Jer. xxii. 24</A>.</P>
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<P>
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I. Few particulars are related concerning him.
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1. Here began his reign in the beginning of Jeroboam's eighteenth year;
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for Rehoboam reigned but seventeen,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+14:21"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 21</A>.
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Jeroboam indeed survived Rehoboam, but Rehoboam's Abijah lived to
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succeed him and to be a terror to Jeroboam, while Jeroboam's Abijah
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(whom we read of
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+14:1"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 1</A>)
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died before him.
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2. He reigned scarcely three years, for he died before the end of
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Jeroboam's twentieth year,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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Being made proud and secure by his great victory over Jeroboam
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:21">2 Chron. xiii. 21</A>),
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God cut him off, to make way for his son Asa, who would be a better
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man.
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3. <I>His mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom,</I>
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that is, Absalom, David's son, as I am the rather inclined to think
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because two other of Rehoboam's wives were his near relations
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+11:18">2 Chron. xi. 18</A>),
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one the daughter of Jerimoth, David's son, and another the daughter of
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Eliab, David's brother. He took warning by his father not to marry
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strangers; yet thought it below him to marry his subjects, except they
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were of the royal family.
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4. He carried on his father's wars with Jeroboam. As there was
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continual war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam, not set battles (these
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were forbidden,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+12:24"><I>ch.</I> xii. 24</A>),
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but frequent encounters, especially upon the borders, one making
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incursions and reprisals on the other, so there was between Abijam and
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Jeroboam
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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till Jeroboam, with a great army, invaded him, and then Abijam, not
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being forbidden to act in his own defence, routed him, and weakened
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him, so that he compelled him to be quiet during the rest of his reign,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:20">2 Chron. xiii. 20</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. But, in general, we are told,
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1. That he was not like David, had no hearty affection for the
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ordinances of God, though, to serve his purpose against Jeroboam, he
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pleaded his possession of the temple and priesthood, as that upon which
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he valued himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:10-12">2 Chron. xiii. 10-12</A>.
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Many boast of their profession of godliness who are strangers to the
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power of it, and plead the truth of their religion who yet are not true
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to it. <I>His heart was not perfect with the Lord his God.</I> He
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seemed to have zeal, but he wanted sincerity; he began pretty well, but
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he fell off, and <I>walked in all the sins of his father,</I> followed
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his bad example, though he had seen the bad consequences of it. He that
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was all his days in war ought to have been so wise as to make and keep
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his peace with God, and not to make him his enemy, especially having
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found him so good a friend in his war with Jeroboam,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:18">2 Chron. xiii. 18</A>.
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<I>Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet will he not learn
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righteousness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:10">Isa. xxvi. 10</A>.
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2. That yet it was for David's sake that he was advanced, and continued
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upon the throne; it was <I>for his sake</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>)
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that God thus <I>set up his son after him;</I> not for his own sake,
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nor for the sake of his father, in whose steps he trod, <I>but for the
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sake of David,</I> whose example he would not follow. Note, It
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aggravates the sin of a degenerate seed that they fare the better for
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the piety of their ancestors and owe their blessings to it, and yet
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will not imitate it. They stand upon that ground, and yet despise it,
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and trample upon it, and unreasonably ridicule and oppose that which
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they enjoy the benefit of. The kingdom of Judah was supported,
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(1.) That David might have a lamp, pursuant to the divine ordination of
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<I>a lamp for his anointed,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+132:17">Ps. cxxxii. 17</A>.
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(2.) That Jerusalem might be established, not only that the honours put
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upon it in David's and Solomon's time might be preserved to it, but
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that it might be reserved to the honours designed for it in
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after-times. The character here given of David is very great--<I>that
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he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord;</I> but the
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exception is very remarkable--<I>save only in the matter of Uriah,</I>
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including both his murder and the debauching of his wife. That was a
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bad matter; it was a remaining blot upon his name, a bar in his
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escutcheon, and the reproach of it was not wiped away, though the guilt
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was. David was guilty of other faults, but they were nothing in
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comparison of that; yet even that being repented of, though it be
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mentioned for warning to others, did not prevail to throw him out of
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the covenant, nor to cut off the entail of the promise upon his
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seed.</P>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ki15_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Asa's Reign.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 914.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned
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Asa over Judah.
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10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his
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mother's name <I>was</I> Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
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11 And Asa did <I>that which was</I> right in the eyes of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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as <I>did</I> David his father.
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12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed
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all the idols that his fathers had made.
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13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from
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<I>being</I> queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa
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destroyed her idol, and burnt <I>it</I> by the brook Kidron.
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14 But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's
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heart was perfect with the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> all his days.
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15 And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated,
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and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, silver, and gold, and vessels.
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16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all
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their days.
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17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built
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Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa
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king of Judah.
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18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold <I>that were</I> left
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in the treasures of the house of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and the treasures of
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the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his
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servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of
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Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at
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Damascus, saying,
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19 <I>There is</I> a league between me and thee, <I>and</I> between my
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father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of
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silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of
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Israel, that he may depart from me.
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20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains
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of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote
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Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all
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the land of Naphtali.
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21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard <I>thereof,</I> that he
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left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
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22 Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none
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<I>was</I> exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the
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timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built
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with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
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23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all
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that he did, and the cities which he built, <I>are</I> they not
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written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
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Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his
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feet.
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24 And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
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fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son
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reigned in his stead.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a short account of the reign of Asa; we shall find a more
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copious history of it
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:1-16:14">2 Chron. xiv., xv., and xvi.</A>
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Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The length of it: <I>He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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In the account we have of the kings of Judah we find the number of the
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good kings and the bad ones nearly equal; but then we may observe, to
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our comfort, that the reign of the good kings was generally long, but
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that of the bad kings short, the consideration of which will make the
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state of God's church not altogether so bad within that period as it
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appears at first sight. Length of days is in Wisdom's right hand.
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<I>Honour thy father,</I> much more thy heavenly Father, <I>that thy
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days may be long.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The general good character of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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<I>Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord,</I> and that
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is right indeed which is so in God's eyes; those are approved whom he
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commends. He did <I>as did David his father,</I> kept close to God, and
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to his instituted worship, was hearty and zealous for that, which gave
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him this honourable character, that he was like David, though he was
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not a prophet, or psalmist, as David was. If we come up to the graces
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of those that have gone before us it will be our praise with God,
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though we come short of their gifts. Asa was like David, though he was
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neither such a conqueror nor such an author; for <I>his heart was
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perfect with the Lord all his days</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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that is, he was both cordial and constant in his religion. What he did
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for God he was sincere in, steady and uniform, and did it from a good
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principle, with a single eye to the glory of God.</P>
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<P>
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III. The particular instances of Asa's piety. His times were times of
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reformation. For,</P>
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<P>
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1. He removed that which was evil. There reformation begins; and a
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great deal of work of that kind his hand found to do. For, though it
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was but twenty years after the death of Solomon that he began to reign,
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yet very gross corruption had spread far and taken deep root.
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Immorality he first struck at: <I>He took away the sodomites out of the
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land,</I> suppressed the brothels; for how can either prince or people
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prosper while those cages of unclean and filthy birds, more dangerous
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than pest-houses, are suffered to remain? Then he proceeded against
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idolatry: <I>He removed all the idols,</I> even those <I>that his
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father had made,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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His father having made them, he was the more concerned to remove them,
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that he might cut off the entail of the curse, and prevent the visiting
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of that iniquity upon him and his. Nay (which redounds much to his
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honour, and shows his heart was perfect with God), when he found
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idolatry in the court, he rooted it out thence,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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When it appeared that Maachah his mother, or rather his grandmother
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(but called his <I>mother</I> because she had the educating of him in
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his childhood), had an idol in a grove, though she was his mother, his
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grandmother,--though, it is likely, she had a particular fondness for
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it,--though, being old, she could not live long to patronise
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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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:9">Deut. xxxiii. 9</A>)
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+32:20">Exod. xxxii. 20</A>)
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
2. He re-established that which was good
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
VI. The policy of his reign. He built cities himself, to encourage the
|
|
increase of his people
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>)
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+12:11">Deut. xii. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+16:7-9">2 Chron. xvi. 7-9</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
VII. The conclusion of his reign. The acts of it were more largely
|
|
recorded in the common history (to which reference is here had,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>)
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Ki15_34"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Reign of Nadab and Baasha.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 954.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, 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
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, 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
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and walked in the
|
|
way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+14:15"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+14:10"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
but none that breathed. Herein he was barbarous, but God was righteous.
|
|
Jeroboam's sin was punished
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>);
|
|
|
|
for those that provoke God do it <I>to their own confusion;</I> see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+7:19">Jer. vii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Ahijah's prophecy was accomplished
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>);
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
though he had seen the end of that way; so strangely was his heart
|
|
hardened with the deceitfulness of sin.</P>
|
|
|
|
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