1 Kings 15

Asa’s plan worked, at least for a time. BenHadad made a treaty with Asa and then launched an attack upon Israel (the ten northern tribes under Baasha); this forced Baasha to withdraw from Ramah and defend his territory against this new invasion. In this way Asa, after mobilizing all the men of Judah, was able to recapture Ramah and fortify two additional towns on his northern border (verses 20–22).

From a shortterm human perspective, Asa had acted wisely and effectively. However, from God’s perspective, he had not. According to 2 Chronicles 16:7–10, Hanani the seer (a prophet) rebuked Asa for having put his trust in Ben-Hadad instead of in God. Hanani reminded Asa of former occasions when he had trusted the Lord and the Lord had delivered him; would the Lord not have delivered Asa this time too? Asa had wasted the wealth of Judah and at the same time had made BenHadad stronger. Hanani told Asa: “. . . the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. Why could you not have trusted Him? You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war" (2 Chronicles 16:9).

This was Asa’s greatest mistake. BenHadad would become a major problem for both Israel and Judah in the years to come. But instead of repenting of his foolishness,AsaputHananiinprison!(2Chronicles 16:10). Asa not only had been foolish; he had also done evil in persecuting one of God’s prophets.⁷⁸

23–24 Here the writer alludes to other events and achievements that took place during Asa’s reign, some of which are described in 2 Chronicles Chapters 14–15. The writer also mentions a physical malady that afflicted Asa during his final years: his feet became diseased (verse 23). The writer of 2 Chronicles says that Asa did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians (2 Chronicles 16:12). It is not wrong to seek help from physicians; however, it is wrong to seek help only from physicians.

Asa started well, but gradually his trust in the Lord declined. Even a strong king can have weak feet; in Asa’s case, his “weak feet” suggested a graver weakness: a failure to totally trust the Lord.⁷⁹ Asa’s life, like Solomon’s before him, shows us that a good beginning does not guarantee a good ending. Believers must stand firm in their faith to the end (Mark 13:13).

Nadab King of Israel (15:25–32)

25–32 Nadab son of Jeroboam reigned only two years; then, in accordance with the prophetic word of Ahijah (1 Kings 14:10–11), Nadab and his whole family were killed (verses 27–30). Baasha son of Ahijah (another Ahijah, not the prophet) was the instrument of God’s judgment against Jeroboam and his family. This judgment had come on Jeroboam because of the sins [he] had committed and had caused Israel to commit (verse 30)—that is, the sins of establishing a false religion in Israel and then worshiping its false gods (see 1 Kings 14:14–16 and comment).

Baasha King of Israel (15:33–34)

33–34 Baasha, who was not related to the family of Jeroboam and Nadab, turned out to be no improvement over his predecessors. He too did evil . . . walking in the ways of Jeroboam.

During Asa’s fortyoneyear reign in Judah, six kings sat on the throne of Israel: Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri and Ahab. All of these kings did evil. In the next chapter we will be introduced to the last three of these kings.