Bible Commentaries

1Ki 15:1-8.

ABIJAM'S WICKED REIGN OVER JUDAH.

1. Abijam--His name was at first Abijah

(2Ch 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"

[1Ki 15:3],

that honorable addition was withdrawn, and his name in sacred history changed into Abijam [LIGHTFOOT].

2. Three years reigned he--(compare

1Ki 15:1 with 1Ki 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

(2Ch 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

(2Ch 11:21),

of Uriel

(2Ch 13:2).

Hence, it has been thought probable that Tamar, the daughter of Absalom

(2Sa 14:27; 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

1Ki 11:4; 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

(1Ki 15:15).

This phrase contains a comparative reference to David's heart. His doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord

(1Ki 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).

1Ki 15:9-22.

ASA'S GOOD REIGN.

10-13. 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

1Ki 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

1Ki 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

2Ch 13:16).

and the things which himself had dedicated--after his own victory over the Cushites

(2Ch 14:12).