And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. Not the days of Rehoboam, though that was true, and is observed, 1 Kings 14:30 , but all the days of Abijam, before he came to the throne, and in which, when a young man, he was concerned, and which still continued between him and Jeroboam; though some think he is called by his father's name, as Rehoboam is called David, 1 Kings 12:16 . read more
Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah ?.... Which seem to be written by Iddo the prophet, see 2 Chronicles 13:22 , and there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam ; and a famous pitched battle between them we read of in 2 Chronicles 13:3 . read more
And Abijam slept with his fathers ,.... That is, died as they did: and they buried him in the city of David , in the sepulchre of his royal ancestors, David, Solomon, and Rehoboam: and Asa his son reigned in his stead ; who perhaps was the eldest of his twenty two sons, 2 Chronicles 13:21 . read more
There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam - This was mentioned in the preceding chapter, 1 Kings 14:30 , and it can mean no more than this: there was a continual spirit of hostility kept up between the two kingdoms, and no doubt frequent skirmishing between bordering parties; but it never broke out into open war, for this was particularly forbidden. See 1 Kings 12:24 . Hostility did exist, and no doubt frequent skirmishes; but open war and pitched battles there were none. ... read more
The succession of Abijam to the throne of Judah appears to have had one limiting principle, viz; that the successor should be of the house and lineage of David (see 2 Chronicles 13:8 ). Within this limit it seems— I. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE WILL OF THE REIGNING KING . 1 . The principle of primogeniture was not considered . 2 . Abijam represented Rehoboam by walking in his sins . II. THE CHOICE OF REHOBOAM HAD THE DIVINE SANCTION ( ... read more
Beloved for the father's sake. I. THE STORY OF A MISUSED OPPORTUNITY . Even in a three years' reign much might have been done. Israel had its troubles, the past its lessons of wisdom; but there was no ear to hear the one, and no heart to attempt redress of the other. 1 . The secret of failure . 2 . The sinful was also a troubled reign : "there was war, " etc; and it was war with brethren. 3 . The opportunity was soon ended : "he reigned three years."... read more
And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. [Practically identical with 1 Kings 14:30 , where see note. Thenius thinks the insertion of the words were due to the carelessness of some copyist, and Bähr admits that our present text is possibly not the original one. For Rehoboam, some MSS ; with the Syriac and Arabic, read Abijah, but this is clearly an emendation, which in turn begets another repetition ( 1 Kings 14:7 ), and there is really no need... read more
Now the rest of the acts of Abijam and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles [see note on 1 Kings 14:29 . The marginal reference to 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 . misleads the casual reader] of the kings of Judah? And there was war [not only hostility, but open war (Vulgate, praelium ), hence the repetition] between Abijam and Jeroboam. read more
And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David [This fact alone should negative Lightfoot's theory as to his name; see note on 1 Kings 14:31 ]: and Ass his son reigned in his stead. The Reign of Asa . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 15:1-8
We have here a short account of the short reign of Abijam the son of Rehoboam king of Judah. He makes a better figure, 2 Chron. 13:1-22, where we have an account of his war with Jeroboam, the speech which he made before the armies engaged, and the wonderful victory he obtained by the help of God. There he is called Abijah?My father is the Lord, because no wickedness is there laid to his charge. But here, where we are told of his faults, Jah, the name of God, is, in disgrace to him, taken away... read more