Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. Which seems to be his only or chief view in slaying him, to get possession of his kingdom. read more
And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam ,.... That he might have no rival, or any that could pretend any title to the crown: he left not Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite ; not that his intention in destroying Jeroboam's family was to fulfil that prophecy, but so it was eventually; see 1 Kings 14:10 . read more
He smote all the house of Jeroboam - This was according to Ahijah's prophetic declaration; see 1 Kings 14:10 , 1 Kings 14:14 . Thus God made use of one wicked man to destroy another. read more
Even in the third year of Asa [We have here (as in 1 Kings 16:8 , 1 Kings 16:23 ) a conspicuous instance of the Hebrew habit of counting parts of years as entire years. It is obvious that if Nadab succeeded to the throne in the second ( 1 Kings 15:25 ) and died in the third year of Asa, he cannot have reigned two full years] king of Judah did Baasha slay him [As the assassination took place during the siege, it is extremely probable that Baasha, like Omri, was the captain of the... read more
And it cams to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed [Same expression in Joshua 11:14 ; cf. Deuteronomy 20:16 . Males and females alike were destroyed; see 1 Kings 14:11 ], until he had destroyed him according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant AhiJah the Shilonite [ 1 Kings 14:10 . It is not implied that it was because of this prophecy that Baasha exterminated the house of Jeroboam. It is... read more
1 Kings 15:27-28. Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines This was a city in the tribe of Dan, given to the Levites, (Joshua 19:44; Joshua 21:23,) who quitted it, as they did the rest of their cities, when Jeroboam would not suffer them to execute their office, 2 Chronicles 11:14; and the Philistines, it is likely, seized upon it, being adjoining to their country. But it appears, Nadab was now endeavouring to recover it out of their hands, as of right belonging to... read more
1 Kings 15:28. Even in the third year of Asa did Baasha slay him It was threatened, (1 Kings 14:15,) that Israel should be as a reed shaken in the water. And so they were, when, during the single reign of Asa, their government was in seven or eight different hands. Jeroboam was upon the throne at the beginning of his reign, and Ahab at the end of it; between whom were Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri, undermining and destroying one another. This they got by deserting the house... read more
1 Kings 15:29. He smote all the house of Jeroboam The first thing he did when he came to the crown was, to cut off all that had any title to it, that he might secure himself in his usurped government. He did not think it enough to imprison or banish them, but he destroyed them; and carried his vengeance so far, that he left not only no males, as was foretold 1 Kings 14:10, but not any that breathed. Herein he was barbarous; but God was righteous; and Jeroboam’s sin was punished: for they... read more
After Jeroboam (15:25-16:20)As predicted by Ahijah, Jeroboam’s dynasty soon came to an end. His son Nadab was murdered by Baasha, one of his army generals, who then declared himself king. Baasha quickly removed all possible rivals by destroying Jeroboam’s entire family (25-34; cf. 14:11-14). However, Baasha was no better than Jeroboam. Because he followed Jeroboam’s policies, he would suffer Jeroboam’s fate (16:1-4). Just as Baasha brought Jeroboam’s dynasty to an end by murdering Jeroboam’s... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 15:25-34
We are now to take a view of the miserable state of Israel, while the kingdom of Judah was happy under Asa's good government. It was threatened that they should be as a reed shaken in the water (1 Kgs. 14:15), and so they were, when, during the single reign of Asa, the government of their kingdom was in six or seven different hands, as we find in this and the following chapter. Jeroboam was upon the throne in the beginning of his reign and Ahab at the end of it, and between them were Nadab,... read more