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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 15:22

Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah ,.... Summoned men of all sorts, ranks, and degrees: (none was exempted;) the Jews F26 Jarchi & Kimchi in loc. say, not so much as a newly married man, whom the law excused from war the first year, nor the disciples of the wise men: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded ; or fortified the place; these; the men of Judah, whom Asa summoned, carried off: and King... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 15:22

None was exempted - Every man was obliged to go and help to dismantle the fortress at Ramah which Baasha had built. This was a general levee en masse of the people: every one was obliged to lend a helping hand, as the state was then supposed to be in danger, and all exemptions necessarily ceased. This is a maxim of civil policy, Ubi adversus hostem muniendi sent limites, omnis immunitas cessat : "Where the boundaries are to be fortified against an enemy, then all exemptions cease. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 15:9-24

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 15:11-26

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 15:16-24

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 15:22

Then king Asa made a proclamation [Heb. made all to hear ] throughout all Judah; none was exempted [Heb. none free ] , and they took away [Heb. took up ] the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha [It is noticeable that it is generally "king Asa," but never "king Baasha"] had bullded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin [Sometimes " the Geba," i.e; height ; in Joshua 18:24 , Gaba ; now Jeba, only 45' northeast of Ramah. This... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 15:22

Church and Dissent. The building and subsequent demolition of Ramah—its building by Baasha to check the defection of his subjects to the southern kingdom and the Jewish Church; its removal by Asa in order that the highway to Judah and the temple of Jerusalem might be open to returning schismatics—this incident may serve to introduce a comparison between the kingdom of Asa and the kingdom of Christ; or rather, the history and relations of the two kingdoms of Palestine after the schism may... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 15:22

Geba, situated opposite to Michmash 1 Samuel 14:5, is almost certainly “Jeba,” which stands picturesquely on the top of its steep terraced hill on the very edge of the “Wady Suweinit.” Its position was thus exceedingly strong; and, as it lay further north than Ramah, Asa may have considered that to fortify and garrison it would be a better protection to his northern frontier than fortifying Ramah.For Mizpah see the marginal reference From Jeremiah 41:9 we learn that Asa, besides fortifying the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 15:22

1 Kings 15:22. None were exempted All sorts of persons were obliged to come, except those who were disabled by age, or infirmity, or absence, or by the public service of the king and kingdom in other places. Built Geba, &c. Repaired and strengthened them, for they were built before; which he judged better than to perfect the fortifications of Ramah, which would have been a perpetual bone of contention (as we speak) between Judah and Israel. read more

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