1 Kings 15:18-20

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 15:18

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house ,.... What was left untaken away by Shishak king of Egypt, 1 Kings 14:26 , or what he had put there dedicated by his father and himself, 1 Kings 15:15 and be they either, they were not to be taken, especially the treasures of the house of the Lord, and put to profane use, and particularly to such bad purposes as these were: and delivered them into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 15:19

There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father ,.... For though Hezion, if he is the same with Rezon, was an adversary to Israel in the days of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:25 , yet it seems his son was not, but was a confederate with the kings of Israel and Judah: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold ; taken out of the treasury of the temple and his own treasury: come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 15:20

So Benhadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel ,.... He broke off his alliance with the king of Israel; and as he had a standing army, with proper officers, he sent them directly to take the cities of Israel: and he smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali ; places which lay on the northern part of Israel, the nearest to Syria. Ijon some place in the tribe of Naphtali,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 15:18

Asa took all the silver - Shishak, king of Egypt, had not taken the whole, or there had been some treasures brought in since that time. Ben-hadad - This was the grandson of Rezon, called here Hezion, who founded the kingdom of Damascus. See 1 Kings 11:23 , 1 Kings 11:24 ; and Calmet. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 15:19

There is a league between me and thee - Or, Let there be a league between me and thee; as there was between my father and thy father. There was no reason why Asa should have emptied his treasures at this time to procure the aid of the Syrian king; as it does not appear that there was any danger which himself could not have turned aside. He probably wished to destroy the kingdom of Israel; and to effect this purpose, even robbed the house of the Lord. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 15:20

Ijon , and Dan , etc. - He appears to have attacked and taken those towns which constituted the principal strength of the kingdom of Israel. 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

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