Discovery Box1 Kings 15:1-13
Context15:1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah 1 became king over Judah. 15:2 He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. 2 His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3 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. 4 15:4 Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God maintained his dynasty 5 in Jerusalem by giving him a son 6 to succeed him 7 and by protecting Jerusalem. 8 15:5 He did this 9 because David had done what he approved 10 and had not disregarded any of his commandments 11 his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. 15:6 Rehoboam 12 and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah’s 13 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. 14 Abijah and Jeroboam had been at war with each other. 15:8 Abijah passed away 15 and was buried 16 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. 17 His grandmother 18 was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. 15:11 Asa did what the Lord approved 19 like his ancestor 20 David had done. 15:12 He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols 21 his ancestors 22 had made. 15:13 He also removed Maacah his grandmother 23 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.
[15:1] 1 tc The Old Greek also has the phrase “the son of Rehoboam.”
[15:2] 2 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:2] 3 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.
[15:3] 4 tn Heb “his heart was not complete with the
[15:4] 5 tn Heb “gave him a lamp.”
[15:4] 6 tc The Old Greek has the plural “his sons.”
[15:4] 7 tn Heb “by raising up his son after him.”
[15:4] 8 tn Heb “and by causing Jerusalem to stand firm.”
[15:5] 9 tn The words “he did this” are added for stylistic reasons.
[15:5] 10 tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the
[15:5] 11 tn Heb “and had not turned aside from all which he commanded him.”
[15:6] 12 tc Most Hebrew
[15:6] 13 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Abijah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[15:7] 14 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?”
[15:8] 15 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.” The Old Greek also has these words: “in the twenty-eighth year of Jeroboam.”
[15:8] 16 tn Heb “and they buried him.”
[15:10] 17 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:10] 18 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
[15:11] 19 tn Heb “what was right in the eyes of the
[15:11] 20 tn Heb “father,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
[15:12] 21 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).
[15:12] 22 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 24).
[15:13] 23 tn Heb “mother,” but Hebrew often uses the terms “father” and “mother” for grandparents and more remote ancestors.
