1V osmnáctém roce vlády krále Jarobeáma, syna Nebatova, se stal králem nad Judou Abijám. 2Kraloval v Jeruzalémě tři roky. Jeho matka se jmenovala Maaka, dcera Abíšalómova. 3Chodil ve všech hříších svého otce, které on před ním páchal, a jeho srdce nebylo cele s Hospodinem, jeho Bohem, jako bylo srdce Davida, jeho otce. 4Avšak kvůli Davidovi mu Hospodin, jeho Bůh, dal lampu v Jeruzalémě, když po něm dal povstat jeho synu a upevnil Jeruzalém. 5Protože David činil to, co bylo správné v Hospodinových očích, a po všechny dny svého života se neodvrátil od ničeho, co mu přikázal, kromě záležitosti Urijáše Chetejského. 6Boj mezi Rechabeámem a Jarobeámem trval po všechny dny jeho života. 7Ostatní Abijámovy činy, všechny věci, které činil, jsou zapsány v knize Letopisů judských králů. Mezi Abijámem a Jarobeámem trval boj. 8Abijám ulehl se svými otci a pohřbili ho v Městě Davidově. Po něm se stal králem jeho syn Ása. 9Ve dvacátém roce vlády izraelského krále Jarobeáma se stal judským králem král Ása. 10Kraloval v Jeruzalémě čtyřicet jedna let. Jeho matka se jmenovala Maaka, dcera Abíšalómova. 11Ása činil to, co je správné v Hospodinových očích, jako jeho otec David. 12Vyhnal ze země chrámové smilníky a odstranil všechny bůžky, které udělali jeho otcové. 13Tak i svou matku Maaku; odstranil ji z postavení královny, protože učinila ohavnou modlu pro Ašeru. Ása pokácel její ohavnou modlu a spálil ji v údolí Kidrónu. 14Návrší sice nebyla odstraněna, ovšem Ásovo srdce bylo po všechny jeho dny cele s Hospodinem. 15Přinesl do Hospodinova domu svaté věci svého otce i své vlastní — stříbro, zlato a různé předměty. 16Boj mezi Ásou a izraelským králem Baešou trval po všechny jejich dny. 17Izraelský král Baeša vytáhl proti Judsku. Postavil Rámu, aby nedovolil judskému králi Ásovi vycházet a vcházet. 18Ása vzal všechno stříbro a zlato ponechané v pokladnicích Hospodinova domu i poklady královského domu a dal je do ruky svých otroků. Král Ása je poslal Ben-hadadovi, synu Tabrimóna, synu Chezjóna, králi Aramu, sídlícímu v Damašku, se slovy: 19Mezi mnou a tebou, mezi mým otcem a tvým otcem je smlouva. Hle, posílám ti dar, stříbro a zlato. Jdi a zruš svou smlouvu s izraelským králem Baešou, ať ode mě odtáhne. 20Ben-hadad uposlechl krále Ásu; velitele vojsk, které měl, poslal proti izraelským městům a pobil Ijón, Dan, Ábel-bét-maaku a celý Kinerót s celým územím Neftalí. 21I stalo se, když to uslyšel Baeša, že přestal stavět Rámu a usadil se v Tirse. 22Král Ása oznámil v celém Judsku, takže nikdo nebyl toho zproštěn, aby odnesli z Rámy kameny i dřevo, ze kterého Baeša stavěl. Král Ása pak z toho postavil Gebu Benjamínovu a Mispu. 23Všechny ostatní Ásovy činy, všechny jeho udatné skutky a všechny věci, které činil, i města, která postavil, jsou zapsána v knize Letopisů judských králů, kromě toho, že v čase svého stáří onemocněl na nohy. 24Pak Ása ulehl se svými otci a byl pohřben se svými otci v městě svého otce Davida. Po něm se stal králem jeho syn Jóšafat. 25Nádab, syn Jarobeámův, se stal králem nad Izraelem v druhém roce vlády judského krále Ásy. Kraloval nad Izraelem dva roky. 26Páchal to, co je zlé v Hospodinových očích, a chodil po cestě svého otce a v jeho hříchu, kterým svedl k hříchu Izrael. 27Spikl se proti němu Baeša, syn Achijášův, z domu Isacharova. Baeša ho zabil u Gibetónu, který patřil Pelištejcům, když Nádab a celý Izrael obléhali Gibetón. 28Baeša ho usmrtil v třetím roce vlády judského krále Ásy a kraloval místo něj. 29Když se stal králem, pobil celý dům Jarobeámův, neponechal Jarobeámovi nic, co má dech, zcela ho vyhladil podle Hospodinova slova, které promluvil prostřednictvím svého otroka Achijáše Šíloského. 30To kvůli Jarobeámovým hříchům, kterými hřešil a kterými svedl k hříchu Izrael a kvůli jeho provokacím, kterými provokoval ke hněvu Hospodina, Boha Izraele. 31Ostatní Nádabovy činy a všechny věci, které činil, jsou zapsány v knize Letopisů izraelských králů. 32Boj mezi Ásou a izraelským králem Baešou trval po všechny jejich dny. 33Ve třetím roce vlády judského krále Ásy se stal králem nad celým Izraelem Baeša, syn Achijášův; kraloval v Tirse dvacet čtyři let. 34Páchal to, co je zlé v Hospodinových očích, a chodil po cestě Jarobeáma a v jeho hříchu, kterým svedl k hříchu Izrael.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 ABIJAM'S WICKED REIGN OVER JUDAH. (
1Kgs 15:1-8)
Abijam--His name was at first Abijah (
2Chr 12:16); "Jah," the name of God, according to an ancient fashion, being conjoined with it. But afterwards, when he was found "walking in all the sins of his father" [
1Kgs 15:3], that honorable addition was withdrawn, and his name in sacred history changed into Abijam [LIGHTFOOT].
2 Three years reigned he--(compare
1Kgs 15:1 with
1Kgs 15:9). Parts of years are often counted in Scripture as whole years. The reign began in Jeroboam's eighteenth year, continued till the nineteenth, and ended in the course of the twentieth.
his mother's name was Maachah--or Michaiah (
2Chr 13:2), probably altered from the one to the other on her becoming queen, as was very common under a change of circumstances. She is called the daughter of Abishalom, or Absalom (
2Chr 11:21), of Uriel (
2Chr 13:2). Hence, it has been thought probable that Tamar, the daughter of Absalom (
2Sam 14:27;
2Sam 18:18), had been married to Uriel, and that Maachah was their daughter.
3 his heart was not perfect with the Lord . . . , as the heart of David his father--(Compare
1Kgs 11:4;
1Kgs 14:22). He was not positively bad at first, for it appears that he had done something to restore the pillaged treasures of the temple (
1Kgs 15:15). This phrase contains a comparative reference to David's heart. His doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord (
1Kgs 15:5) is frequently used in speaking of the kings of Judah, and means only that they did or did not do that which, in the general course and tendency of their government, was acceptable to God. It furnishes no evidence as to the lawfulness or piety of one specific act.
4 for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp--"A lamp" in one's house is an Oriental phrase for continuance of family name and prosperity. Abijam was not rejected only in consequence of the divine promise to David (see on 1Ki. 11:13-36).
10 ASA'S GOOD REIGN. (
1Kgs 15:9-22)
his mother's name was Maachah--She was properly his grandmother, and she is here called "the king's mother," from the post of dignity which at the beginning of his reign she possessed. Asa, as a constitutional monarch, acted like the pious David, laboring to abolish the traces and polluting practices of idolatry, and in pursuance of his impartial conduct, he did not spare delinquents even of the highest rank.
13 also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen--The sultana, or queen dowager, was not necessarily the king's natural mother (see
1Kgs 2:19), nor was Maachah. Her title, and the privileges connected with that honor and dignity which gave her precedency among the ladies of the royal family, and great influence in the kingdom, were taken away. She was degraded for her idolatry.
because she had made an idol in a grove--A very obscene figure, and the grove was devoted to the grossest licentiousness. His plans of religious reformation, however, were not completely carried through, "the high places were not removed" (see
1Kgs 3:2). The suppression of this private worship on natural or artificial hills, though a forbidden service after the temple had been declared the exclusive place of worship, the most pious king's laws were not able to accomplish.
15 he brought in the things which his father had dedicated--Probably the spoils which Abijam had taken from the vanquished army of Jeroboam (see
2Chr 13:16).
and the things which himself had dedicated--after his own victory over the Cushites (
2Chr 14:12).
16 there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days--Asa enjoyed a ten years' peace after Jeroboam's defeat by Abijam, and this interval was wisely and energetically spent in making internal reforms, as well as increasing the means of national defense (
2Chr 14:1-7). In the fifteenth year of his reign, however, the king of Israel commenced hostilities against him, and, invading his kingdom, erected a strong fortress at Ramah, which was near Gibeah, and only six Roman miles from Jerusalem. Afraid lest his subjects might quit his kingdom and return to the worship of their fathers, he wished to cut off all intercourse between the two nations. Ramah stood on an eminence overhanging a narrow ravine which separated Israel from Judah, and therefore he took up a hostile position in that place.
18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the . . . house of the Lord--Asa's religious character is now seen to decline. He trusted not in the Lord (
2Chr 16:7). In this emergency Asa solicited the powerful aid of the king of Damascene-Syria; and to bribe him to break off his alliance with Baasha, he transmitted to him the treasure lying in the temple and palace. The Syrian mercenaries were gained. Instances are to be found, both in the ancient and modern history of the East, of the violation of treaties equally sudden and unscrupulous, through the presentation of some tempting bribe. Ben-hadad poured an army into the northern provinces of Israel, and having captured some cities in Galilee, on the borders of Syria, compelled Baasha to withdraw from Ramah back within his own territories.
Ben-hadad--(See on
1Kgs 11:14).
22 Then king Asa made a proclamation--The fortifications which Baasha had erected at Ramah were demolished, and with the materials were built other defenses, where Asa thought they were needed--at Geba (now Jeba) and Mizpeh (now Neby Samuil), about two hours' travelling north of Jerusalem.
23 in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet--(See on
2Chr 16:12, where an additional proof is given of his religious degeneracy.)
25 NADAB'S WICKED REIGN. (
1Kgs 15:25-34)
Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign--No record is given of him, except his close adherence to the bad policy of his father.
27 Baasha smote him at Gibbethon--This town, within the tribe of Dan, was given to the Levites (
Josh 19:44). It lay on the Philistine borders, and having been seized by that people, Nadab laid siege to recover it.
29 when he reigned, he smote all the house of Jeroboam--It was according to a barbarous practice too common in the East, for a usurper to extirpate all rival candidates for the throne; but it was an accomplishment of Ahijah's prophecy concerning Jeroboam (
1Kgs 14:10-11).