Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
1 Kings 15
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. He walked in all the sins that his father had done before him, and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God as the heart of David his father had been. Yet for David’s sake, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, raising up his son after him and establishing Jerusalem, because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life—except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did—are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. Abijam lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa his son became king in his place. In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah. He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done. He removed the male shrine prostitutes from the land and took away all the idols that his ancestors had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrifying image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it in the Kidron Valley. But the high places were not removed. Yet Asa’s heart was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days. He brought into the house of the LORD the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts: silver, gold, and vessels. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, so that he would allow no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and gold remaining in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house, gave them into the hand of his servants, and King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, “There is a covenant between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.” Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the cities of Israel. They struck Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Kinneroth, along with all the land of Naphtali. When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and remained in Tirzah. Then King Asa summoned all Judah; no one was exempt. They carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities that he built—are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age, he became diseased in his feet. Asa lay down with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place. Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, by which he caused Israel to sin. Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon. Baasha put him to death in the third year of Asa king of Judah and became king in his place. As soon as he became king, he struck down all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone who breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, because of the sins of Jeroboam that he committed and by which he caused Israel to sin, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger. Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did—are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel at Tirzah, for twenty-four years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin, by which he caused Israel to sin.