1 Kings 15:23-24

Asa’s death 15:23-24

Asa experienced some personal discipline for his trust in the flesh (1 Kings 15:23; 2 Chronicles 16:12). It may have been because of his ill health (gout?) that Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat, became coregent with him late in his reign (873-870 B.C.). [Note: See Edwin Thiele, "Coregencies and Overlapping Reigns Among the Hebrew Kings," Journal of Biblical Literature 93 (1974):174-200.] McFall believed Jehoshaphat’s coregency began in 872 or 871. [Note: McFall, p. 45.] When Asa died, Ahab was reigning in Israel (874-853 B.C.).

Asa’s heart was right with God his whole reign (1 Kings 15:14), as David’s had been. Nevertheless, like David, he also sinned. He experienced personal blessing in the form of a long reign and victory over his enemies because of his commitment to Yahweh. He also became a source of blessing to Judah.