15:1 King Jeroboam King over the northern kingdom, Israel. See note on 12:25–33.

15:2 Maacah the daughter of Abishalom Maacah is identified as both the mother of Abijam and the mother of Asa (v. 10), Abijam’s son (v. 8). The nature of their relationship is unclear since the Hebrew word for “mother” also can mean “grandmother.” In v. 13, Maacah seems to have had the role of queen mother, a role she still may have had as grandmother to the reigning king.

15:3 all the sins of his father that he had done The narrative does not mention Abijam’s specific sins. He apparently allowed the abominations instituted by Rehoboam, his father, to continue (14:22–24).

15:4 a lamp The Hebrew word used here, nir (meaning “lamp”), describes a sign of life and hope (1 Sam 3:3; 2 Sam 21:17).

15:5 except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite The only misdeed (2 Sam 11) mentioned in this praise of David (compare 1 Kgs 3:6; 9:4; 11:38). Some Greek versions lack this verse.

15:6 Rehoboam Several manuscripts read “Rehoboam” here, while others read “Abijam” (see 14:30; 15:7).

15:7 the events of the days of the kings of See note on 14:19.

15:8 slept with his ancestors See note on 2:10.

15:9 Asa became the king of Judah Asa reigned from approximately 910–873 bc. Six different northern kings ruled during Asa’s reign in the south. The author of 1–2 Chronicles gives more details about his reign. See 2 Chr 14:1–16:14 and note.

Northern King	Date
Nadab	909–900 bc
Baasha	900–886 bc
Elah	886–885 bc
Zimri	885 bc
Omri	885–874 bc
Ahab	874–853 bc

15:10 Maacah the daughter of Abishalom See note on 1 Kings 15:2.

15:11 David See note on 14:8.

15:12 male shrine prostitutes See note on 14:24.

15:13 from the office of queen mother The Hebrew word used here, gevirah (meaning “queen mother”), is an official title. The exact function of this office is unclear.

Asherah A Canaanite goddess.

the Wadi Kidron Runs along Jerusalem’s eastern border. The Kidron Valley became a common disposal site for idols (e.g., 2 Kgs 23:6, 12; 2 Chr 15:16).

15:14 high places Refers to a site for pagan worship.

15:15 his father Refers to David and Solomon (1 Kings 7:13–51).

15:16 Baasha king of Israel See 15:27–16:7.

15:17 Ramah A city located five miles north of Jerusalem; originally allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 18:25).

to hinder the coming and going of anyone Describes a blockade.

15:18 the silver and gold remaining Refers to the treasures that still remained following the raid of Shishak, king of Egypt (1 Kings 14:25–26). These gifts had been dedicated to Yahweh by Asa’s ancestors and stored in the temple.

Ben-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon Asa asks for military aid from the king of Aram (also called “Syria”), Israel’s northern neighbor.

King of Aram/Syria	Date	Southern King	Date
Tabrimmon	930–885 bc	Rehoboam	930–913 bc
Ben-Hadad I	885–860 bc	Abijah	913–910 bc
Ben-Hadad II (Hadadezer)	860–843 bc	Asa	910–873 bc

15:19 Baasha king of Israel See 15:27–16:7.

he may go up away from me Asa’s immediate reaction was to request aid rather than confront Baasha. This suggests that the kingdom of Judah was politically and militarily weaker than the kingdom of Israel at this time.

15:20 The cities in this verse cover the entire Upper Galilee region, down to the Sea of Galilee. These towns are listed from north to south.

Ijon Tell ed-Dibin (2 Kgs 15:29), located in the fertile valley at the foot of Mount Hermon.

Abel-Beth-Maacah Located just south of Ijon (2 Kgs 15:29).

Kinnereth A city allotted to the tribe of Naphtali (Deut 3:17; Josh 11:2; 19:35); perhaps associated with Tell el-‘Oreimeh, 5.5 miles (9 km) north of Tiberias.

15:21 Tirzah See note on 1 Kings 14:17.

15:22 King Asa rebuilt Those who controlled these two locations also controlled the north—south mountain road that leads to and from Jerusalem. As a result, Asa turned the tables on Baasha’s blockade.

Geba in Benjamin Tel el-Ful, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) north of Jerusalem.

Mizpah Tell en-Nasbeh, 7.5 miles (12 km) north of Jerusalem; a major center in the premonarchic period (Judg 20:1; 1 Sam 7:5, 16).

15:23 the events of the days of the kings of See note on 1 Kgs 14:19.

at the time of his old age, he developed a foot disease Implies that this disease led to his death. The only other references to a king’s ailment include the leprosy of Azariah (2 Kgs 15:5)—which led to his removal from office—and Hezekiah’s unnamed disease (2 Kgs 20).

15:24 slept with his ancestors See note on 1 Kgs 2:10.

Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place See 22:41–50.

15:25 Nadab The only descendent of Jeroboam to rule over Israel. He reigned circa 909–900 bc.

15:26 sin that he caused Israel to commit As with Abijam (see v. 3), the narrative does not mention Nadab’s specific sins.

15:27 Issachar One of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Gibbethon A Levitical city in the territory of the tribe of Dan (Josh 19:44; 21:23). It is located just a few miles west of Gezer, meaning that the Philistines had pushed their way inland by this time (compare 1 Kgs 16:15). The city is also known from Egyptian and Mesopotamian sources.

15:29 he killed all of the house of Jeroboam Baasha thoroughly eliminated political competition (compare 16:12; 2 Kgs 10:1–11).

according to the word of Yahweh See the prophecy of Ahijah in 1 Kgs 14:7–16.

15:30 the sins of Jeroboam Refers to Jeroboam’s installation of the golden calves and establishment of high places.

he had provoked Yahweh Yahweh is provoked because Israel worshiped other gods (Exod 20:5).

15:31 the events of the days of the kings of See note on 1 Kings 14:19.

15:33 the third year of Asa See note on v. 9.

Tirzah See note on 14:17.

15:34 the way of Jeroboam Refers to Jeroboam’s installation of the golden calves and establishment of high places for worship (see 12:28–30; note on 12:28).