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Texts -- 1 Kings 15:9-24 (NET)

Context
Asa’s Reign over Judah
15:9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam’s reign over Israel , Asa became the king of Judah . 15:10 He ruled for forty-one years in Jerusalem . His grandmother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom . 15:11 Asa did what the Lord approved like his ancestor David had done . 15:12 He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols his ancestors had made . 15:13 He also removed Maacah his grandmother from her position as queen because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole . Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley . 15:14 The high places were not eliminated , yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord throughout his lifetime . 15:15 He brought the holy items that he and his father had made into the Lord’s temple , including the silver , gold , and other articles . 15:16 Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other . 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 .

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NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Asa

    [ebd] physician, son of Abijah and grandson of Rehoboam, was the third king of Judah. He was zealous in maintaining the true worship of God, and in rooting all idolatry, with its accompanying immoralities, out of the land (1 Kings...
    [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.

  • 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...
    [isbe] BAASHA - ba'-a-sha ba`sha', "boldness"): King of Israel. Baasha, son of Ahijah, and of common birth (1 Ki 16:2), usurped the throne of Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, killed Nadab and exterminated the house of Jeroboam. He carri...
    [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.

  • 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...

  • Maachah

    [smith] (oppression). The daughter of Nahor by his concubine Beumah. (Genesis 22:24) The father of Achish who was king of Gath at the beginning of Solomon?s reign. (1 Kings 2:39) The daughter, or more probably granddaughter, of A...
    [nave] MAACHAH 1. Son of Nahor, Gen. 22:24. 2. Called also Maacah. Mother of Absalom, 2 Sam. 3:3; 1 Chr. 3:2. 3. Called also Maoch. Father of Achish, 1 Sam. 27:2; 1 Kin. 2:39. 4. Called also Michaiah. Mother of Abijam and grandm...

  • 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 ...

  • 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...

  • Zeal

    [nave] ZEAL, Religious Josh. 24:15, 16; 2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 1 Kin. 9:4; 1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 19:3; Ezra 7:23; Job 16:19; Psa. 42:1, 2; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 96:2, 3, 10; Psa. 119:139; Prov. 11:30; Eccl. 9:10; ...

  • TEMPLE, A1

    [isbe] TEMPLE, A1 - tem'-p'l (hekhal, "palace"; sometimes, as in 1 Ki 6:3,5, etc.; Ezek 41:1,15 ff, used for "the holy place" only; bayith, "house," thus always in the Revised Version (British and American); hieron, naos): A. STRUC...

  • 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...

  • 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.

  • 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...

  • 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.

  • 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:...

  • Tabrimon

    [ebd] good is Rimmon, the father of Benhadad, king of Syria (1 Kings 15:18).
    [smith] (properly Tabrimmon, i.e. good is Rimmon , the Syrian god) the father of Ben-hadad I., king of Syria in the reign of Asa. (1 Kings 15:18) (B.C. before 928.)
    [nave] TABRIMON, father of Ben-hadad, 1 Kin. 15:18.

  • 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...

  • Geba

    [ebd] the hill, (2 Sam. 5:25 [1 Chr. 14:16, "Gibeon"]; 2 Kings 23:8; Neh. 11:31), a Levitical city of Benjamin (1 Kings 15:22; 1 Sam. 13:16; 14:5, wrongly "Gibeah" in the A.V.), on the north border of Judah near Gibeah (Isa. 10:29...
    [isbe] GEBA - ge'-ba (gebha`, "hill"): (1) A town on the Northeast boundary of the territory of Benjamin (Josh 18:24), given to the Levites (Josh 21:17; 1 Ch 6:60). It stood on the northern frontier of the kingdom of Judah, Geba an...
    [nave] GEBA, called also Gaba. A city of Benjamin, assigned to the sons of Aaron, Josh. 21:17; 1 Sam. 13:3; 2 Sam. 5:25; 1 Kin. 15:22; 2 Kin. 23:8; 1 Chr. 6:60; 8:6; 2 Chr. 16:6; Neh. 11:31; 12:29; Isa. 10:29; Zech. 14:10.

  • 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....

  • BENHADAD

    [isbe] BENHADAD - ben-ha'-dad (ben-hadhadh; Septuagint huios Hader): The Name I. BENHADAD I 1. The Kingdom of Syria Founded 2. Syria and Judah 3. Shortsightedness of Asa II. BENHADAD II 1. Hadad-'idri of the Monuments 2. Expedition...
    [smith] (son of Hadad), the name of three kings of Damascus. BENHADAD I., King of Damascus, which in his time was supreme in Syria. He made an alliance with Asa, and conquered a great part of the north of Israel. (1 Kings 15:18) H...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • When Israel entered the land the people were to destroy all the places and objects used in the pagan worship of the Canaanites (vv. 2-4). Pagan peoples generally have felt that worshipping on elevated sites brings them into c...
  • 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...
  • Asa came to power close to the end of Jeroboam's reign over Israel in 910 B.C. Asa reigned from 911-870 B.C., 41 years, an unusually long reign that probably began when he was quite young (cf. 15:2). It was his grandmother (N...
  • 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...
  • 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...
  • Hezekiah began reigning as his father Ahaz's vice-regent in 729 B.C. and ruled as such for 14 years. In 715 B.C. he began his sole rule over Judah that lasted until 697 B.C. (18 years). He then reigned with his son Manasseh w...
  • 13:18 Jeremiah was to tell the king and the queen mother of Judah to humble themselves because the Lord had removed their authority or would remove it soon. Pride was a besetting sin of royalty. The individuals in view are pr...
  • 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...
  • Jeremiah wrote almost as much about Babylon's future as he did about the futures of all the other nations in his other oracles combined. The length of this oracle reflects the great importance of Babylon in his ministry as we...
  • 5:10 Normally we would identify the queen as Belshazzar's wife. However, there are a number of reasons to prefer the view that she was really the queen mother or perhaps even the surviving wife of Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar's...
  • The following section is a general indictment of the people of Israel for their idolatry.4:11 The practice of idolatry (spiritual harlotry), with its emphasis on drinking wine, had turned the heart of the Israelites from Yahw...

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