1 Kings 15

Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam's rule, Abijam began his reign over Judah.

Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. and his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

He ruled Jerusalem for three years. His mother, Maachah, was the daughter of Abishalom.

And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.

He followed his father's sinful path, repeating his mistakes. His heart wasn't fully committed to God, unlike his forefather David.

Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:

Out of love for David, God gifted him a guiding light in Jerusalem, ensuring his son's reign and the city's stability.

Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

David lived a life pleasing to God, always following His commands. His one great sin was in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.

Throughout his entire life, Rehoboam and Jeroboam were locked in a constant, bitter conflict.

Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

Isn't all of Abijam's life, his deeds and actions, recorded in the historical records of Judah's kings? And yes, there was a bitter conflict between Abijam and Jeroboam.

And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

Abijam joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to peace in the city of David. His son, Asa, courageously took up the mantle of leadership in his place.

And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.

In the twentieth year of Jeroboam's rule over Israel, Asa began his reign in Judah.

And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.

He ruled Jerusalem for 41 years, his mother, Maachah, was the daughter of Abishalom.

And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.

Just like his father David, Asa lived a life that pleased God, doing what was right and good.

And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

He courageously drove the male shrine prostitutes out of the land and bravely discarded all the false idols his ancestors had created.

And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.

Asa even stripped his own mother, Maachah, of her title as queen, because she had made an idol in a grove. He tore down her idol and set it ablaze near the Kidron stream.

But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

Though the sacred sites remained, Asa's devotion to the Lord was unwavering and pure throughout his life.

And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.

He lovingly carried in the precious items his father had devoted, along with his own offerings, into the Lord's house - silver, gold, and sacred vessels.

And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Throughout their lives, Asa and King Baasha of Israel were locked in a constant, bitter conflict.

And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

Baasha, the King of Israel, waged war against Judah. He constructed Ramah, a blockade, to isolate Asa, the King of Judah, preventing anyone from entering or leaving his kingdom.

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

Asa gathered all the silver and gold left in the treasuries of the Lord's house and the royal palace. Entrusting these precious items to his servants, he sent them to Benhadad, the Syrian king living in Damascus, son of Tabrimon and grandson of Hezion, with this message:

There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

We share a bond, you and I, as did our fathers. Look, I've sent you gifts of silver and gold. Please, end your alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so he may leave me be.

So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

So, Benhadad listened to King Asa. He dispatched his army leaders against Israel's cities. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abelbethmaachah, all of Cinneroth, and the entire region of Naphtali.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

When Baasha heard the news, he stopped building Ramah and stayed in Tirzah instead.

Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

King Asa passionately declared to all of Judah, sparing no one: "Remove the stones and timber that Baasha used to build Ramah." With these materials, King Asa fervently constructed Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.

The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

Isn't every detail of Asa's life, his strength, his accomplishments, and the cities he built, recorded in the history of Judah's kings? Yet, in his later years, he suffered from a foot ailment.

And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.

Asa joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to peace in the city of his father, David. His son, Jehoshaphat, took over his throne, continuing his legacy.

And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.

Nadab, Jeroboam's son, took over Israel's throne during Asa's second year as Judah's king. His reign over Israel lasted for two years.

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

He deeply saddened the Lord with his wicked actions, following his father's sinful path and leading Israel astray.

And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.

Baasha, Ahijah's son from the Issachar family, plotted against him. In the Philistine city of Gibbethon, Baasha struck him down. This happened while Nadab and all of Israel were surrounding Gibbethon.

Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.

It was in the third year of King Asa of Judah that Baasha killed Nadab and then took his throne.

And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:

When he became king, he ruthlessly wiped out Jeroboam's entire family, not sparing a single soul. He did this to fulfill God's prophecy, delivered through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, that he would obliterate Jeroboam.

Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.

This was because of Jeroboam's sins, the sins he committed and led Israel to commit, by which he provoked the Lord 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 chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Isn't everything else Nadab did, all his actions, recorded in the history book of Israel's kings?

And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Throughout their entire lives, Asa and Baasha, the king of Israel, were locked in a relentless, bitter conflict.

In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

In the third year of King Asa's rule in Judah, Baasha, son of Ahijah, started his reign over all of Israel in Tirzah, a reign that lasted for twenty-four years.

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

He did evil in the Lord's eyes, following Jeroboam's sinful path and the sin with which Jeroboam led Israel astray.