1 Kings 15: They keep fighting

Synopsis:

(Note – this story is not told sequentially – but I have arranged it sequentially here).
18 years into the reign of King Jeroboam over Israel, Abijam takes over Judah from Rehoboam. Abijam rules for 3 years before dying. He was sinful just like his father. But after Abijam came King Asa of Judah (20th year of the reign of Jeroboam). Asa was godly like David. He removed the sodomites and the idols and even removed his mother as queen because she had built an idol. He, however, allowed the high places to remain. He also purchased gold and silver and started to restore the treasure of Judah. In Asa’s second year, Nadab, son of Jeroboam becomes king of Israel. But by the next year Baasha son of Ahijah, house of Issachar, conspired against Nadab and took over as king of Israel. King Baasha killed all members of the house off Jeroboam. He was sinful, just like Jeroboam. He then made war against Asa and built Ramah. Asa appealed to the king of Syria, Ben-hadad, for help. Asa gave Ben-hadad a lot of gold and silver and jewels and so Syria waged war against Israel. Asa and Baasha warred for their entire reigns. Asa died after 41 years and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his stead.

In other words:

Jeroboams and Rehoboam’s sons continue fighting.

Favorite bit:

1 Kings 15:10 – Asa’s mother’s name is Maachah, daughter of Abishalom. A woman is mentioned!!!

2nd favorite bit:

1 Kings 15:3-5 – 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 heard of David his father. 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. Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

Confused commentary about 1: Kings 15:3-5

First: I love the fact that they remember the Uriah incident as a blemish on David. But ... clearly God was not happy with Solomon and set up Jeroboam against Solomon’s son Rehoboam. And then, he’s like – oh – I didn’t realize you were going to sin Jeroboam, so – I guess I’ll go back and favor the David’s sons in Judah. It seems to me that Israel being bigger than Judah should be the favored group. But what do I know.

3rd favorite bit:

That Syria was bribed to fight Israel on behalf of Asa in Judah and the bribe worked (1 Kings 15:17-20)

Coolest bit:

1 Kings 15:23 – Asa in the time of his old age was diseased in his feet.

Least favorite bit:

That this chapter is out of order.  We aren’t told who Baasha is until verse 27 and Baasha doesn’t take over until verse 33. Yet his battle with Asa starts on verse 17. King Asa dies and is buried with his fathers in verse 24. It’s all out of sequence. It’s kind of annoying.

Moral Lesson Learned:

We all need allies (1 Kings 15)