6:37 In the month Ziv 1 of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign 2 the foundation was laid for the Lord’s temple.
15:1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah 3 became king over Judah. 15:2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. 4 His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. 5 15:3 He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his ancestor David had been. 6 15:4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty 7 in Jerusalem by giving him a son 8 to succeed him 9 and by protecting Jerusalem. 10 15:5 He did this 11 because David had done what he approved 12 and had not disregarded any of his commandments 13 his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. 15:6 Rehoboam 14 and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s 15 lifetime. 15:7 The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. 16 Abijah and Jeroboam had been at war with each other. 15:8 Abijah passed away 17 and was buried 18 in the city of David. His son Asa replaced him as king.
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. 19 His grandmother 20 was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 15:11 Asa did what the Lord approved 21 like his ancestor 22 David had done. 15:12 He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols 23 his ancestors 24 had made. 15:13 He also removed Maacah his grandmother 25 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. 26 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. 27
15:16 Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other. 28 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. 29 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 30 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. 31 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.” 32 15:20 Ben Hadad accepted King Asa’s offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. 33 They conquered 34 Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth. 35 15:21 When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying 36 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. 37 King Asa used the materials to build up 38 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. 39 Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease. 40 15:24 Asa passed away 41 and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king.
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 42 the Lord. He followed in his father’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin. 43
15:27 Baasha son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, conspired against Nadab 44 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, 45 just as the Lord had predicted 46 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. 47
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. 48 15:32 Asa and King Nadab of Israel were continually at war with each other.
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 49 the Lord; he followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin. 50
21:1 After this the following episode took place. 51 Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. 52 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, 53 I will pay you silver for it.” 54 21:3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.” 55
21:4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, 56 “I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.” 57 He lay down on his bed, pouted, 58 and would not eat. 21:5 Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, “Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?” 21:6 He answered her, “While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’” 59 21:7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “You are the king of Israel! 60 Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. 61 I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
21:8 She wrote out orders, 62 signed Ahab’s name to them, 63 and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders 64 to the leaders 65 and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. 66 21:9 This is what she wrote: 67 “Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 21:10 Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
21:11 The men of the 68 city, the leaders 69 and the nobles who lived there, 70 followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them. 71 21:12 They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 21:13 The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him 72 outside the city and stoned him to death. 73 21:14 Then they reported to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 74
21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she 75 said to Ahab, “Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he’s dead.” 21:16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, 76 he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
21:17 The Lord told Elijah the Tishbite: 77 21:18 “Get up, go down and meet King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it. 21:19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Haven’t you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?”’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: “In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood they will also lick up your blood – yes, yours!”’”
21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, 78 “So, you have found me, my enemy!” Elijah 79 replied, “I have found you, because you are committed 80 to doing evil in the sight of 81 the Lord. 21:21 The Lord says, 82 ‘Look, I am ready to bring disaster 83 on you. I will destroy you 84 and cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. 85 21:22 I will make your dynasty 86 like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah because you angered me and made Israel sin.’ 87 21:23 The Lord says this about Jezebel, ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the outer wall 88 of Jezreel.’ 21:24 As for Ahab’s family, dogs will eat the ones 89 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.” 21:25 (There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed 90 to doing evil in the sight of 91 the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. 92 21:26 He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, 93 just like the Amorites 94 whom the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.)
21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 21:28 The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 95 21:29 “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse 96 before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.” 97
1 sn In the month Ziv. This would be April-May, 966
2 tn The words “of Solomon’s reign” are added for clarification. See v. 1.
3 tc The Old Greek also has the phrase “the son of Rehoboam.”
5 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
6 sn Abishalom (also in v. 10) is a variant of the name Absalom (cf. 2 Chr 11:20). The more common form is used by TEV, NLT.
7 tn Heb “his heart was not complete with the
9 tn Heb “gave him a lamp.”
10 tc The Old Greek has the plural “his sons.”
11 tn Heb “by raising up his son after him.”
12 tn Heb “and by causing Jerusalem to stand firm.”
11 tn The words “he did this” are added for stylistic reasons.
12 tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the
13 tn Heb “and had not turned aside from all which he commanded him.”
13 tc Most Hebrew
14 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Abijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
15 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Abijah, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
17 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” The Old Greek also has these words: “in the twenty-eighth year of Jeroboam.”
18 tn Heb “and they buried him.”
19 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
20 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
21 tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the
22 tn Heb “father,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
23 tn The word used here, גִלּוּלִים [gillulim], is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as “worthless things” (אֱלִילִים, ’elilim), “vanities” or “empty winds” (הֲבָלִים, havalim).
24 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 24).
25 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
27 tn Heb “yet the heart of Asa was complete with the
29 tn Heb “and he brought the holy things of his father and his holy things (into) the house of the
31 tn Heb “There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.”
33 tn Heb “and he built up Ramah so as to not permit going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.”
35 tn Heb “King Asa sent it.”
37 tn Heb “[May there be] a covenant between me and you [as there was] between my father and your father.”
38 tn Heb “so he will go up from upon me.”
39 tn Heb “and Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of the armies which belonged to him against the cities of Israel.”
40 tn Heb “he struck down.”
41 tn Heb “and all Kinnereth together with all the land of Naphtali.”
41 tn Heb “building.”
43 tn Heb “and King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, there was no one exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its wood which Baasha had built.”
44 tn Heb “and King Asa built with them.”
45 tn Heb “As for the rest of all the events of Asa, and all his strength and all which he did and the cities which he built, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Judah?”
46 tn Heb “Yet in the time of his old age he became sick in his feet.”
47 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
49 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
50 tn Heb “and he walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
51 tn Heb “against him”; the referent (Nadab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
53 tn Heb “and when he became king, he struck down all the house of Jeroboam; he did not leave any breath to Jeroboam until he destroyed him.”
54 tn Heb “according to the word of the
55 tn Heb “because of Jeroboam which he committed and which he made Israel commit, by his provocation by which he made the
57 tn Heb “As for the rest of the events of Nadab, and all which he did, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”
59 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
60 tn Heb “and he walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”
61 tn Heb “after these things.” The words “the following episode took place” are added for stylistic reasons.
62 sn King Ahab of Samaria. Samaria, as the capital of the northern kingdom, here stands for the nation of Israel.
63 tn Heb “if it is good in your eyes.”
64 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it will be mine as a garden of herbs.”
65 tn Heb “Far be it from me, by the
67 tn Heb “on account of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite spoke to him.”
68 tn Heb “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.”
69 tn Heb “turned away his face.”
69 tn Heb “While I was talking…, I said…, he said….” Ahab’s explanation is one lengthy sentence in the Hebrew text, which is divided in the English translation for stylistic reasons.
71 tn Heb “You, now, you are exercising kingship over Israel.”
72 tn Heb “so your heart [i.e., disposition] might be well.”
73 tn Heb “scrolls.”
74 tn Heb “in the name of Ahab.”
75 tn Heb “scrolls.”
76 tn Heb “elders.”
77 tn Heb “to the nobles who were in his city, the ones who lived with Naboth.”
75 tn Heb “she wrote on the scrolls, saying.”
77 tn Heb “his.”
78 tn Heb “elders.”
79 tn Heb “and the nobles who were living in his city.”
80 tn Heb “did as Jezebel sent to them, just as was written in the scrolls which she sent to them.”
79 tn Heb “led him.”
80 tn Heb “and they stoned him with stones and he died.”
81 tn Heb “Naboth was stoned and he died.” So also in v. 15.
83 tn Heb “Jezebel”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“she”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
85 tc The Old Greek translation includes the following words here: “he tore his garments and put on sackcloth. After these things.”
87 tn Heb “the word of the
89 tn Heb “and Ahab said to Elijah.” The narrative is elliptical and streamlined. The words “when Elijah arrived” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
90 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
91 tn Heb “you have sold yourself.”
92 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
91 tn The introductory formula “the
92 sn Disaster. There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text. The word translated “disaster” (רָעָה, ra’ah) is similar to the word translated “evil” (v. 20, הָרַע, hara’). Ahab’s sins would receive an appropriate punishment.
93 tn Heb “I will burn after you.” Some take the verb בָּעַר (ba’ar) to mean here “sweep away.” See the discussion of this verb in the notes at 14:10 and 16:3.
94 tn Heb “and I will cut off from Ahab those who urinate against a wall, [including both those who are] restrained and let free [or “abandoned”] in Israel.” The precise meaning of the idiomatic phrase עָצוּר וְעָזוּב (’atsur vÿ’azuv, translated here “weak and incapacitated”) is uncertain. For various options see HALOT 871 s.v. עצר and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 107. The two terms are usually taken as polar opposites (“slaves and freemen” or “minors and adults”), but Cogan and Tadmor, on the basis of contextual considerations (note the usage with אֶפֶס (’efes), “nothing but”) in Deut 32:36 and 2 Kgs 14:26, argue convincingly that the terms are synonyms, meaning “restrained and abandoned,” and refer to incapable or incapacitated individuals.
93 tn Heb “house.”
94 tn Heb “because of the provocation by which you angered [me], and you caused Israel to sin.”
95 tc A few Hebrew
97 tn “Dogs will eat the ones who belonging to Ahab who die in the city.”
99 tn Heb “who sold himself.”
100 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
101 tn Heb “like Ahab…whom his wife Jezebel incited.”
101 tn The Hebrew word used here, גִלּוּלִים (gillulim) is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless things”) and הֲבָלִים (havalim, “vanities” or “empty winds”).
102 tn Heb “He acted very abominably by walking after the disgusting idols, according to all which the Amorites had done.”
103 tn Heb “the word of the
105 tn Or “humbles himself.” The expression occurs a second time later in this verse.
106 tn Heb “I will not bring the disaster during his days, [but] in the days of his son I will bring the disaster on his house.”