_ABIJAM REIGNS OVER JUDAH THREE YEARS; ASA FORTY AND ONE. HE IS SUCCEEDED BY JEHOSHAPHAT. NADAB REIGNS OVER ISRAEL TWO YEARS; BAASHA, HAVING MADE A CONSPIRACY, KILLS HIM AND ALL THE FAMILY OF JEROBOAM, AND REIGNS IN ISRAEL._ _Before Christ 955._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MOTHER'S NAME WAS MAACHAH— According to the margin of our Bibles, _mother_ signifies the same here as _grandmother._ Houbigant thinks that it should be rendered _Anah._... [ Continue Reading ]
MAACHAH HIS MOTHER—HE REMOVED FROM BEING QUEEN, BECAUSE SHE HAD MADE AN IDOL IN A GROVE— The word which we render idol, is in the original מפלצת _mepletzet,_ the signification of which has been doubted. The Vulgate, however, has in a great measure cleared the matter, by rendering the passage that th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT REMOVED— This seems to be contradicted by 2 Chronicles 14:3 where we are told that Asa took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places; but for the right understanding and reconciling this, we may observe, that there were two kinds of high places, the one t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ASA TOOK ALL THE SILVER AND THE GOLD, &C.— In cases of extreme danger, it was always held lawful to employ sacred things in the service of one's country; but there was no such necessity in this case. God had appeared wonderfully in Asa's defence against an enemy much more powerful than Baasha w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE SENT UNTO THEE A PRESENT— The presenting of gifts is one of the most universal methods of doing honour. The sending presents to princes to engage them to help the distressed, has been practised in the east in late times, as well as in the days of Asa. To us it may appear strange, that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BAASHA, THE SON OF AHIJAH— See note on 1 Kings 15:2 of the next chapter. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Asa succeeded to the throne of Israel in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, and reigned long and successfully over Judah. 1. His piety is recorded to his honour. He copied after the illustrious David in all... [ Continue Reading ]