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Texts -- 1 Kings 15:17-34 (NET)

Context
15:17 King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah . 15:18 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants . He then told them to deliver it to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon , the son of Hezion , king of Syria , ruler in Damascus , along with this message : 15:19 “I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See , I have sent you silver and gold as a present . Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel , so he will retreat from my land.” 15:20 Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel . They conquered Ijon , Dan , Abel Beth Maacah , and all the territory of Naphtali , including the region of Kinnereth . 15:21 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and settled down in Tirzah . 15:22 King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah . King Asa used the materials to build up Geba (in Benjamin ) and Mizpah . 15:23 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, including all his successes and accomplishments , as well as a record of the cities he built , are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah . Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease . 15:24 Asa passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David . His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king .
Nadab’s Reign over Israel
15:25 In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah , Jeroboam’s son Nadab became the king of Israel ; he ruled Israel for two years . 15:26 He did evil in the sight of the Lord . He followed in his father’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin . 15:27 Baasha son of Ahijah , from the tribe of Issachar , conspired against Nadab and assassinated him in Gibbethon , which was in Philistine territory. This happened while Nadab and all the Israelite army were besieging Gibbethon . 15:28 Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah and replaced him as king. 15:29 When he became king , he executed Jeroboam’s entire family . He wiped out everyone who breathed , just as the Lord had predicted through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite . 15:30 This happened because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and which he made Israel commit . These sins angered the Lord God of Israel . 15:31 The rest of the events of Nadab’s reign, including all his accomplishments , are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel . 15:32 Asa and King Nadab of Israel were continually at war with each other.
Baasha’s Reign over Israel
15:33 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah , Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah ; he ruled for twenty-four years . 15:34 He did evil in the sight of the Lord ; he followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Baasha

    [ebd] bravery, the third king of the separate kingdom of Israel, and founder of its second dynasty (1 Kings 15; 16; 2 Chr. 16:1-6). He was the son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar. The city of Tirzah he made the capital of his k...
    [smith] (wicked), B.C. 953-931, third sovereign of the separate kingdom of Israel, and the founder of its second dynasty. He was son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar and conspired against King Nadab, (1 Kings 15:27) and killed h...
    [nave] BAASHA, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 15:16-22, 27-34; 16:1-7; 21:22; 2 Kin. 9:9; 2 Chr. 16:1-6; Jer. 41:9.

  • Nadab

    [ebd] liberal, generous. (1.) The eldest of Aaron's four sons (Ex. 6:23; Num. 3:2). He with his brothers and their father were consecrated as priests of Jehovah (Ex. 28:1). He afterwards perished with Abihu for the sin of offering...
    [isbe] NADAB - na'-dab (nadhabh, "noble"; Nadab): (1) Aaron's first-born son (Ex 6:23; Nu 3:2; 26:60; 1 Ch 6:3 (Hebrew 5:29); 24:1). He was permitted with Moses, Aaron, the 70 elders, and his brother Abihu to ascend Mt. Sinai and b...
    [smith] (liberal). The eldest son of Aaron and Elisheba. Exod 8 13 Numb 3:2. (B.C. 1490.) He, his father and brother, and seventy old men of Israel were led out from the midst of the assembled people, (Exodus 24:1) and were commende...
    [nave] NADAB 1. Son of Aaron, Ex. 6:23. Called to Mount Sinai with Moses and Aaron to worship, Ex. 24:1, 9, 10. Set apart to priesthood, Ex. 28:1, 4, 40-43. Offers strange fire to God, and is destroyed, Lev. 10:1, 2; Num. 3:4; 2...

  • Asa

    [isbe] ASA - a'-sa ('aca', "healer"; Asa): (1) A king of Judah, the third one after the separation of Judah and Israel. He was the son of Abijah and grandson of Rehoboam. Maacah, his mother, or rather grandmother, was daughter of A...
    [nave] ASA 1. King of Judah, 1 Kin. 15:8-24; 1 Chr. 3:10; 2 Chr. 14; 15; 16; Matt. 1:7. 2. A Levite, 1 Chr. 9:16.

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Ramah

    [isbe] RAMAH - ra'-ma (ha-ramah, without the definite article only in Neh 11:33; Jer 31:15): The name denotes height, from root rum, "to be high," and the towns to which it applied seem all to have stood on elevated sites. (1) Code...
    [nave] RAMAH 1. Called Rama, Matt. 2:18. A city allotted to Benjamin, Josh. 18:25; Judg. 19:13. Attempted fortification of, by King Baasha; destruction of, by Asa, 1 Kin. 15:17-22; 2 Chr. 16:1-6. People of, return from the Babyl...

  • Rama

    [ebd] (Matt. 2:18), the Greek form of Ramah. (1.) A city first mentioned in Josh. 18:25, near Gibeah of Benjamin. It was fortified by Baasha, king of Israel (1 Kings 15:17-22; 2 Chr. 16:1-6). Asa, king of Judah, employed Benhadad ...

  • Ahijah

    [isbe] AHIJAH - a-hi'-ja ('achiyah or 'achiyahu, "brother of Yahweh," "my brother is Yahweh," "Yah is brother." In the King James Version the name sometimes appears as Ahiah): (1) One of the sons of Jerahmeel the great-grandson of ...
    [nave] AHIJAH, called also Ahiah. 1. Son of Bela, 1 Chr. 8:7. 2. Son of Jerahmeel, 1 Chr. 2:25. 3. A priest in Shiloh, probably identical with Ahimelech, mentioned in 1 Sam. 22:11. Was priest in Saul's reign, 1 Sam. 14:3, 18. S...

  • Ijon

    [ebd] a ruin, a city of Naphtali, captured by Ben-hadad of Syria at the instance of Asa (1 Kings 15:20), and afterwards by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria (2 Kings 15:29) in the reign of Pekah; now el-Khiam.
    [isbe] IJON - i'-jon (`iyon; Septuagint in Kings has Ain, or Nain; in Chronicles Ion; Aion): A town in the territory of Naphtali, first mentioned in connection with the invasion of Ben-hadad, in the reign of Baasha. It was captured...
    [smith] (a ruin), a town in the north of Palestine, belonging to the tribe of Naphtali. It was taken and plundered by the captains of Ben-hadad, (1 Kings 15:20; 2 Chronicles 16:4) and a second time by Tiglath-pileser. (2 Kin...
    [nave] IJON, a town of Naphtali, 1 Kin. 15:20; 2 Kin. 15:29; 2 Chr. 16:4.

  • Hezion

    [ebd] vision, the father of Tabrimon, and grandfather of Ben-hadad, king of Syria (1 Kings 15:18).
    [isbe] HEZION - he'-zi-on (chezyon; the Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus, Azein; Codex Alexandrinus, Azael): An ancestor of Ben-hadad, king of Syria (1 Ki 15:18).
    [smith] (vision), a king of Aram (Syria), father of Tabrimon and grandfather of Ben-hadad I. (1 Kings 15:18) He is probably identical with REZON, the contemporary of Solomon, in (1 Kings 11:23) (B.C. before 928.)
    [nave] HEZION, grandfather of Ben-hadad, 1 Kin. 15:18.

  • PALESTINE, 2

    [isbe] PALESTINE, 2 - III. Palestine in the Historic Books of the Old Testament. 1. Book of Joshua: Joshua is the great geographical book of the Old Testament; and the large majority of the 600 names of places, rivers and mountains...

  • Government

    [nave] GOVERNMENT Paternal functions of, Gen. 41:25-57. Civil service school provided by, Dan. 1:3-20. Maintains a system of public instruction, 2 Chr. 17:7-9. Executive departments in. See: Cabinet; King; Ruler; Statecraft. Ju...

  • Tirzah

    [isbe] TIRZAH - tur'-za (tirtsah; Thersa): (1) A royal city of the Canaanites, the king of which was slain by Joshua (12:24). It superseded Shechem as capital of the Northern Kingdom (1 Ki 14:17, etc.), and itself gave place in tur...
    [nave] TIRZAH 1. A daughter of Zelophehad, Num. 26:33; 36:11; Josh. 17:3. Special legislation in regard to the inheritance of, Num. 27:1-11; 36; Josh. 17:3, 4. 2. A city of Canaan. Captured by Joshua, Josh. 12:24. Becomes the re...

  • Ben-hadad

    [ebd] the standing title of the Syrian kings, meaning "the son of Hadad." (See HADADEZER.) (1.) The king of Syria whom Asa, king of Judah, employed to invade Israel (1 Kings 15:18). (2.) Son of the preceding, also king of Syria. H...
    [nave] BEN-HADAD 1. King of Syria, 1 Kin. 15:18-20; 2 Chr. 16:2-4. 2. A king of Syria, who reigned in the time of Ahab, son of Ben-hadad I, 1 Kin. 20; 2 Kin. 5; 6; 7; 8:7-15. 3. Son of Hazael and king of Syria, 2 Kin. 13:3, 24, 2...

  • ALLIANCE

    [isbe] ALLIANCE - a-li'-ans. 1. In the Patriarchal Stories: Frequent references are made to alliances between the patriarchs and foreigners. Abraham is reported to have had "confederates" among the chiefs of the Canaanites (Gen 14:...

  • DAMASCUS

    [isbe] DAMASCUS - da-mas'-kus: 1. The Name 2. Situation and Natural Features 3. The City Itself 4. Its History (1) The Early Period (to circa 950 BC) (2) The Aramean Kingdom (circa 950-732 BC) (3) The Middle Period (732 BC-650 AD) ...
    [smith] one of the most ancient and most important of the cities of Syria. It is situated 130 miles northeast of Jerusalem, in a plain of vast size and of extreme fertility, which lies east of the great chain of Anti-Libanus, on the ...

  • Alliances

    [smith] On the first establishment of the Hebrews in Palestine no connections were formed between them and the surrounding nations. But with the extension of their power under the kings alliances became essential to the security of t...
    [nave] ALLIANCES. Political With idolaters forbidden, Ex. 23:32, 33; 34:12-15; Deut. 7:2; Judg. 2:2; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:37; Isa. 30:2; 31:1; Hos. 4:17; 5:13; 12:1; Ezek. 17:15. Ratification of: By oaths, Gen. 21:23; 26:28-31; Josh....

  • JUDAH, TERRITORY OF

    [isbe] JUDAH, TERRITORY OF - (yehudhah): I. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA 1. The Natural Boundaries 2. The Natural Divisions of Judah (1) The Maritime Plain (2) The Shephelah (3) The Hill Country of Judah II. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND ITS TERRITO...

  • Homicide

    [nave] HOMICIDE. Accidental Ex. 21:13, 28-32; Num. 35:11-15, 22-28, 32 Deut. 4:41-43; 19:1-10. Josh. 20:1-9 Felonious or Murder: Gen. 4:9-11 v. 12.; Gen. 9:5, 6; Gen. 49:7; Ex. 20:13 Deut. 5:17; Rom. 13:9. Ex. 21:29-32; Num. 35...

  • Regicide

    [nave] REGICIDE Of Ehud, Judg. 3:16-23. Of Saul, 2 Sam. 1:16. Of Ish-bosheth, 2 Sam. 4:5-8. Of Nadab, 1 Kin. 15:27-29. Of Elah, 1 Kin. 16:9-11. Of Joram, 2 Kin. 9:24. Of Ahaziah, 2 Kin. 9:27. Of Joash, 2 Kin. 12:20, 21. Of ...

  • Rulers

    [nave] RULERS Appointed and removed by God. See: Government, God in. Chastised, Dan. 4. See: Nation. Monarchical, See: Kings. Patriarchal, Gen. 27:29, 37. Instances of Nimrod, Gen. 10:8-10. Abraham, Gen. 14:13-24; 17:6; 21:2...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • I. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-11A. Solomon's succession to David's throne 1:1-2:121. David's declining health 1:1-42. Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne 1:5-533. David's charge to Solomon 2:1-94. David's death 2:10-12B. ...
  • Hadad hated Solomon because of Joab's severe treatment of the Edomites. He may have been a relation of Solomon's by marriage. Pharaoh Siamun apparently gave his daughter to Solomon in marriage and his sister-in-law to Hadad (...
  • The second major part of the Book of Kings records the histories of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.123During this era of 209 years (931-722 B.C.) the two kingdoms experienced differing relati...
  • During its history the Northern Kingdom had three capitals: first Shechem (v. 25), then Tirzah (14:17; 15:33), and finally Samaria (16:23-24). Perhaps the king strengthened Penuel in west-central Gilead as a Transjordanian pr...
  • Whereas the prophecy of the young prophet from Judah dealt with Jeroboam's religious cult, this one predicted the fate of his descendants.Jeroboam probably sent his wife to see Ahijah because that prophet had previously given...
  • The writer wrote that the reigns of 18 of Israel's 20 kings stood recorded in "The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel"(all except those of Tibni and Hoshea). This document is different from the canonical books of 1 and 2 Chron...
  • Antagonism continued between Israel and Judah in Asa's day. Ramah was a border town just north of Judah. Many Israelites were leaving Israel to live in Judah, an indication of God's blessing on the Southern Kingdom (cf. 2 Chr...
  • Asa experienced some personal discipline for his trust in the flesh (v. 23; 2 Chron. 16:12). It may have been because of his ill health that Asa's son, Jehoshaphat, became coregent with him late in his reign (873-870 B.C.).16...
  • Nadab ruled Israel from 910-909 B.C. Evidently Baasha assassinated him during a battle with the Philistines. Gibbethon stood three miles west of Solomon's stronghold city of Gezer near the border where Israel, Philistia, and ...
  • Zimri's seven-day reign in 885 B.C. was the shortest in the history of the Northern Kingdom.Omri was commander-in-chief of Israel's army. He outranked Zimri. When word of Zimri's assassination of Elah reached the soldiers at ...
  • Naaman (Aram. gracious) was commander of the Aramean army under Ben-Hadad II (cf. 1 Kings 15:18, 20). Leprosy in the ancient world degenerated the bodies of its victims and eventually proved fatal. At this time no one could c...
  • 41:4-5 Two days after Gedaliah's murder, before the news of it had spread, 80 religious pilgrims came down from the old towns of Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria in northern Israel on their way to Jerusalem. Their dress and other...
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