INTRODUCTION: From now on out, all the kings of Israel do evil in the sight of the Lord and only some of the kings of Judah do right. Asa is especially interesting. He began strong but ended weak. He clearly illustrated the prophecy to himself and those under him, “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him” (2 Chronicles 15:2And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
See All...). Additional material on Abijam (Abijah) and Asa can be found in 2 Chronicles, chapters 13-16.

1. THE EVIL REIGN OF ABIJAM OVER JUDAH (1 Kings 15:1-8 [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 was 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 LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. [4] Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: [5] Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. [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, are 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.
   See All...)
1. The Reign of Abijam (1 Kings 15:1-2 [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 was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All...)
1. Began in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:1Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
   See All...)
2. Took the place of Rehoboam over Judah (1 Kings 15:1Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
   See All...)
3. Reigned for three years in Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:2Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All...)
4. His mother was Maachah (1 Kings 15:2Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 11:20-22 [20] And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. [21] And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) [22] And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
   See All...).
1. Comparison of scripture shows her to be the granddaughter of Absalom, the rebellious son of David (2 Samuel 14:27And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
   See All... with 2 Chronicles 13:2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
   See All...). In scripture, the terms mother, daughter, father, and son can skip generations and still be correct usage.
2. She is the grandmother of Asa (1 Kings 15:2Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All..., 8, 10).
2. The Evil of Abijam (1 Kings 15:3And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
   See All...)
1. He walked in the sins of his father – meaning Rehoboam.
2. His heart was not perfect with the Lord – unlike David.
3. The Mercy of the Lord (1 Kings 15:4-5 [4] Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: [5] Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
   See All...)
1. What God did for David’s sake (1 Kings 15:4Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:
   See All...)
1. He gave him a lamp in Jerusalem.
2. He set up his son after him.
2. What David did for the Lord (1 Kings 15:5Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
   See All...)
1. He did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.
2. He turned not aside from the commandments of the Lord.
3. He failed only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
4. The Wars of Abijam (1 Kings 15:6-7 [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, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
   See All...)
1. War between Rehoboam and Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:6And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
   See All...)
2. War between Abijam and Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:7Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
   See All...)
5. The End of His Reign (1 Kings 15:8And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
   See All...)
1. He slept with his fathers.
2. He was buried in the city of David.
3. Asa his son reigned in his stead.
2. THE GOOD REIGN OF ASA OVER JUDAH (1 Kings 15:9-15 [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 was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. [11] And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did 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 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.
   See All...)
1. The Reign of Asa (1 Kings 15:9-10 [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 was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All...)
1. He began to reign in the twentieth year of Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:9And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
   See All...).
2. He reigned for 41 years in Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:10And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All...).
3. His mother (see notes above) was Maachah (1 Kings 15:10And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
   See All...).
2. The Good of Asa (1 Kings 15:11-15 [11] And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did 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 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.
   See All...)
1. He did right in the eyes of the Lord (1 Kings 15:11And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
   See All...).
2. He removed the sodomites from the land (1 Kings 15:12And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
   See All...).
3. He removed the idols his fathers had made (1 Kings 15:12And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
   See All...).
4. He removed Maachah from being queen (1 Kings 15:13And 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.
   See All...).
1. She had made an idol in a grove.
2. He destroyed her idol and burned it.
5. He failed only in not removing the high places (1 Kings 15:14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.
   See All...).
6. But his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days (1 Kings 15:14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.
   See All...).
7. He brought the dedicated things into the house of the Lord (1 Kings 15:15And 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.
   See All...).
3. THE WAR BETWEEN ASA AND BAASHA (1 Kings 15:16-22 [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 that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, [19] There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. [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 Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. [21] And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah. [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.
   See All...)
1. Baasha’s Blockade of Asa (1 Kings 15:16-17 [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.
   See All...)
1. War between Asa and Baasha all their days (1 Kings 15:16And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
   See All...)
2. Baasha went up against Judah (1 Kings 15:17And 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.
   See All...).
3. Baasha built Ramah to block passage to Judah (1 Kings 15:17And 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.
   See All...).
2. Asa’s Bribery of Benhadad (1 Kings 15:18-19 [18] Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, [19] There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
   See All...)
1. Asa took the treasures of the kingdom (1 Kings 15:18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
   See All...).
1. The treasures of the house of the Lord
2. The treasures of the king’s house
2. Asa sent the treasures to Benhadad of Syria (1 Kings 15:18Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
   See All...).
3. He bribed Benhadad to break his peace with Baasha (1 Kings 15:19There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
   See All...).
3. Baasha’s War with Benhadad (1 Kings 15:20-21 [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 Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. [21] And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
   See All...)
1. Benhadad fought against the cities of Israel (1 Kings 15:20So 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 Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
   See All...).
2. Baasha left off to build Ramah and retreated to Tirzah (1 Kings 15:21And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
   See All...).
4. Asa’s Destruction of Ramah (1 Kings 15:22Then 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.
   See All...)
1. Asa took away the building materials of Ramah.
2. Asa built the cities of Geba and Mizpah.
5. Notes on the Bribery of Benhadad by Asa
1. It was a master plan of strategy.
2. It worked to perfection.
3. But God was not pleased (2 Chronicles 16:7-10 [7] And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. [8] Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. [9] For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. [10] Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
   See All...).
1. Because he did not rely upon the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
   See All...)
2. But he relied on the king of Syria (2 Chronicles 16:7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
   See All...).
3. Even though God had delivered from the Ethiopians (2 Chronicles 16:8Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
   See All...; 2 Chronicles 14:9-13 [9] And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. [10] Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. [11] And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee. [12] So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. [13] And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
   See All...)
4. Asa did foolishly and would face continual wars to the end of his reign (2 Chronicles 16:9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
   See All...).
5. Asa responded by putting the prophet who told him this in prison (2 Chronicles 16:10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
   See All...).
4. This brought problems to the remaining years of Asa’s reign.
1. The bribery took place in the 36th year of Asa’s 41 years as king (2 Chronicles 16:1In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
   See All...).
2. In the 39th year of his reign, Asa had a great disease of his feet (2 Chronicles 16:12And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
   See All...).
1. But Asa sought not the Lord.
2. He sought only the doctors.
4. THE END OF THE REIGN OF ASA (1 Kings 15:23-24 [23] The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. [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.
   See All...)
1. The Rest of His Acts (1 Kings 15:23The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
   See All...)
2. The Disease of His Feet (1 Kings 15:23The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
   See All...; see 2 Chronicles 16:12And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
   See All... and the notes above)
3. His Death and Burial (1 Kings 15:24And 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.
   See All...)
4. The Reign of His Son Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 15:24And 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.
   See All...)
5. THE EVIL REIGN OF NADAB OVER ISRAEL (1 Kings 15:25-26 [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.
   See All...)
1. The Reign of Nadab (1 Kings 15:25And 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.
   See All...)
1. He began in the second year of Asa.
2. He reigned for two years over Israel.
2. The Evil of Nadab (1 Kings 15:26And 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.
   See All...)
1. He did evil in the sight of the Lord.
2. He walked in the ways of his father; in his sin, he made Israel to sin.
6. THE DESTRUCTION OF NADAB BY BAASHA (1 Kings 15:27-31 [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 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?
   See All...)
1. The Defeat of Nadab (1 Kings 15:27And 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.
   See All...)
1. Baasha of Issachar conspired against Nadab.
2. The army of Israel laid siege to the Philistine city of Gibbethon.
3. Baasha killed Nadab there.
2. The Death of Nadab (1 Kings 15:28Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
   See All...)
1. In the third year of Asa
2. Baasha reigned in his stead.
3. The Destruction of the House of Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:29-30 [29] And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: [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.
   See All...)
1. Baasha killed all the house of Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:29And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
   See All...).
2. Baasha fulfilled the prophecy against Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:29And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
   See All...).
3. The house of Jeroboam fell because of Jeroboam’s sins against the Lord (1 Kings 15:30Because 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.
   See All...).
4. The Record of the Acts of Nadab (1 Kings 15:31Now 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?
   See All...)
7. THE EVIL REIGN OF BAASHA OVER ISRAEL (1 Kings 15:32-34 [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.
   See All...)
1. The War Between Asa and Baasha (1 Kings 15:32And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
   See All...)
2. The Reign of Baasha (1 Kings 15:33In 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.
   See All...)
1. He began his reign in the third year of Asa.
2. He reigned over Israel from Tirzah for 24 years.
3. The Evil of Baasha (1 Kings 15:34And 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.
   See All...)
1. He did evil in the sight of the Lord.
2. He walked in the way of Jeroboam.

CONCLUSION: The names of those in authority have changed, but the love for sin has not. War and sin are prominent themes in the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.