And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof ,.... What was doing in the northern part of his kingdom: that he left off building of Ramah ; which was the thing designed to be answered by this diversion: and dwelt in Tirzah ; in the tribe of Manasseh, nearer at hand, to observe and stop the motions of the Syrian king. read more
Dwelt in Tirzah - This seems to have been the royal city; see 1 Kings 15:33 , and 1 Kings 14:17 ; and in this Baasha was probably obliged to shut himself up. read more
Zeal without trust. AN OPPORTUNITY RECOGNIZED AND USED . The need of the time was manfully met. Brought up in an idolatrous home, he nevertheless saw that this sin was sapping the foundation of the nation's stability and strength, and he set himself to root it out. 1 . The land was cleansed from . filthy abomination, from legalized, and even sanctified, sin ("And he took away the Sodomites," etc.) The nation that legalizes sin will reap corruption and shame: that which... read more
The Reign of Asa. Though this prince reigned forty and one years—a longer period than any of his predecessors, and, with two exceptions, a longer period than any of the kings who came after him—yet his reign, so far as it is recorded here, may be summed up in few words. "Happy is the nation," it has been said, "which has no history." But happier still the nation whose history, like that of Judah in the time of Asa, may be comprehended under these two heads— internal reforms, and ... read more
The War Policy of Asa. "Forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem" ( 1 Kings 15:10 ). The evil kings of Judah were about as numerous as the good, but their reigns were shorter. "The wicked do not live out half their days." But though the reign of Asa was long and glorious, his war policy with Baasha was not creditable. I. THE OBJECT WAS RIGHT . 1 . The war was provoked by the enemy . 2 . It was provoked by impious intention . II. THE MEANS WERE WRONG ... read more
And it came to pasta, when Baaaha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah [He could not prosecute it when he had enemies on every side. He at once assumes the defensive], and dwelt in Tirzah. [ 1 Kings 14:17 . He retired to his capital It is not implied that he had entertained the idea of dwelling at Ramah.] read more
1 Kings 15:20-21. And smote Ijon and Dan, &c. He fell upon the northern part of the kingdom of Israel, which was nearest to Damascus; while Baasha was busy at Ramah, which was in the more southern part. And dwelt in Tirzah Now the royal city of Israel. There he abode to defend his own kingdoms, and durst not return to oppose Asa, lest the Syrian king should make a second invasion. So Asa met with success in this ungodly course, as good men sometimes meet with disappointment in a good... read more
Asa’s reformation in Judah (15:9-24)Judah’s new king, Asa, spent the first ten years of his reign getting rid of Canaanite religious practices and strengthening the nation’s defences. Strong faith and a strong fighting force enabled him to defeat a huge army that invaded Judah from the south. Plunder seized at the time enriched Judah considerably (2 Chronicles 14:1-15).A prophet pointed out how this victory proved that, as in the time of the judges, God blessed those who trusted in him in their... read more
dwelt in. Septuagint and Vulg, read "returned to". See note on 1 Kings 14:17 . read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 15:9-24
We have here a short account of the reign of Asa; we shall find a more copious history of it 2 Chron. 14:1-16:14 Here is, I. The length of it: He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem, 1 Kgs. 15:10. In the account we have of the kings of Judah we find the number of the good kings and the bad ones nearly equal; but then we may observe, to our comfort, that the reign of the good kings was generally long, but that of the bad kings short, the consideration of which will make the state of God's... read more