The acts of Abiam and of Asa kings of Juda. And of Nadab and Baasa kings of Israel.
Abias reigneth wickedly in Iuda three yeares. 8. After him his sonne Asa succeding destroyeth idolatrie, reigning fourtie one yeares. 16. VVho hauing warres with the king of Israel, maketh league with the king of Syria, 24. As• dying Iosaphat succedeth. 25. Nadab reigneth wickedly two yeares in Israel, is then slaine by Baasa of the tribe of Issachar, 29. and his whole familie is destroyed. 33. Baasa also reigneth wickedly twentie foure yeares.
1Now in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, Abiam reigned over Juda.Il diciottesimo anno del regno di Geroboam figliuolo di Nabat, regnò Abia sopra Giuda.THERFORE in the eightenth yeare of king Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, Abias reigned ouer Iuda.Igitur in octavodecimo anno regni Jeroboam filii Nabat, regnavit Abiam super Judam. 2He reigned three years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Maacha, the daughter of Abessalom.Ei regnò tre anni in Gerusalemme: sua madre chiamavasi Maacha figliuola di Abessalom.Three yeares reigned he in Ierusalem: the name of his mother was Maacha the daughter of Abessalom.Tribus annis regnavit in Jerusalem: nomen matris ejus Maacha filia Abessalom. 3And 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 was the heart of David, his father.Ed egli imitò in tutto i peccati fatti dal padre suo prima di lui; e il suo cuore non fu sincero verso il Signore Dio suo, come il cuore di Davidde suo padre.And he walked in al the sinnes of his father, which he had done before him: neither was his hart perfect with our Lord his God, as the hart of Dauid his father.Ambulavitque in omnibus peccatis patris sui, quæ fecerat ante eum: nec erat cor ejus perfectum cum Domino Deo suo, sicut cor David patris ejus. 4But for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:Ma per amor di Davidde il Signore Dio suo gli diede una lampana in Gerusalemme, suscitando dopo di lui il suo figliuolo, e tenendo in piedi Gerusalemme:But for Dauids sake our Lord his God gaue him a lampe in Ierusalem, that he might rayse vp his sonne after him, and establish Ierusalem:Sed propter David dedit ei Dominus Deus suus lucernam in Jerusalem, ut suscitaret filium ejus post eum, et statueret Jerusalem: 5Because David had done that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from any thing that he commanded him, all the days of his life, except the matter of Urias, the Hethite.Perocché Davidde avea operato rettamente negli occhi del Signore, e non avea traviato in nulla da' suoi comandamenti per tutto il tempo di sua vita, eccettuato il fatto d'Uria di Heth.because Dauid had done right in the eies of our Lord, and had not declined from al thinges, which he commanded him, al the daies of his life, except the matter of Vrias the Hetheite.eo quod fecisset David rectum in oculis Domini, et non declinasset ab omnibus quæ præceperat ei cunctis diebus vitæ suæ, excepto sermone Uriæ Hethæi.
6But there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all the time of his life.Fu però guerra tra Roboamo, e Geroboam finché quegli visse.But there was warre betwen Roboam and Ieroboam al the time of his life.Attamen bellum fuit inter Roboam et Jeroboam omni tempore vitæ ejus. 7And the rest of the words of Abiam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? And there was war between Abiam and Jeroboam.Il rimanente poi delle azioni di Abia e tutto quello, ch'ei fece non è egli scritto nel Giornale delle cose dei re di Giuda? E vi fu battaglia tra Abia, e Jeroboam.And the rest of the wordes of Abias, and al that he did, are they not written in the Booke of the wordes of the kinges of Iuda? And there was warre betwen Abias and Ieroboam.Reliqua autem sermonum Abiam, et omnia quæ fecit, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro verborum dierum regum Juda ? Fuitque prælium inter Abiam et inter Jeroboam. 8And Abiam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa, his son, reigned in his stead.E Abia si addormentò co' padri suoi, e lo seppellirono nella città di Davidde: e Asa suo figliuolo gli succedette nel regno.And Abias slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the citie of Dauid: and Asa his sonne reigned for him.Et dormivit Abiam cum patribus suis, et sepelierunt eum in civitate David, regnavitque Asa filius ejus pro eo. 9So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, reigned Asa, king of Juda,L'anno ventesimo adunque del regno di Geroboam re d'Israele, regnò Asa re di Giuda,In the twenteth yeare therfore of Ieroboam the king of Israel reigned Asa the king of Iuda.In anno ergo vigesimo Jeroboam regis Israël regnavit Asa rex Juda, 10And he reigned one and forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacha, the daughter of Abessalom.E regnò quarant'un anno in Gerusalemme: la sua madre ebbe nome Maacha, ed era figliuola di Abessalom.And he reigned one & fourtie yeares in Ierusalem. His mothers name was Maaca, the daughter of Abessalom.et quadraginta et uno anno regnavit in Jerusalem. Nomen matris ejus Maacha filia Abessalom. 11And Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, as did David, his father:E Asa fece quel, che era giusto nel cospetto del Signore, come Davidde suo padre:And Asa did right before the sight of our Lord, as Dauid his father:Et fecit Asa rectum ante conspectum Domini, sicut David pater ejus: 12And he took away the effeminate out of the land, and removed all the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made.E tolse via dal paese gli effeminati, e lo purgò da tutte le sozzure degl'idoli fabbricati da' padri suoi.and he tooke away the effemmare out of the land, and he purged al the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made.et abstulit effeminatos de terra, purgavitque universas sordes idolorum quæ fecerant patres ejus.
13Moreover, he also removed his mother, Maacha, from being the princess in the sacrifices of Priapus, and in the grove which she had consecrated to him: and he destroyed her den, and broke in pieces the filthy idol, and burnt it by the torrent Cedron:E oltre a questo si levò d'intorno sua madre Maacha, affinchè non fosse sacerdotessa nelle cerimonie di Priapo, del bosco, che ella gli avea consagrato: ed ei rovinò la sua spelonca, e spezzò l'infamissimo simolacro, e lo bruciò presso al torrente Cedron:Moreouer he remoued also Maaca his mother, that she should not be princesse in the sacrifices of Priapus, and in the groue which she had consecrated: and he destroyed her denne, and brake the most filthie idol, and burnt it in the torrent cedron:Insuper et Maacham matrem suam amovit, ne esset princeps in sacris Priapi, et in luco ejus quem consecraverat: subvertitque specum ejus, et confregit simulacrum turpissimum, et combussit in torrente Cedron: 14But the high places he did not take away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect with the Lord all his days:Ma non tolse i luoghi eccelsi: per altro il cuore di Asa fu perfetto inverso il Signore per tutto il tempo di sua vita.but the excelses he did not take away. Otherwise the hart of Asa was parfect with our Lord al his daies:excelsa autem non abstulit. Verumtamen cor Asa perfectum erat cum Domino cunctis diebus suis: 15And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and he had vowed, into the house of the Lord, silver and gold, and vessels.Ed ei portò nella casa del Signore le cose consagrate, e offerte in voto dal padre suo, l'argento, l'oro, e i vasi.and he caried in those thinges, which his father had sanctified, and vowed into the house of our Lord, siluer and gold, and vessels.et intulit ea quæ sanctificaverat pater suus, et voverat, in domum Domini, argentum, et aurum, et vasa. 16And there was war between Asa, and Baasa, king of Israel, all their days.E fu guerra tra Asa, e Baasa re d'Israele per tutto il tempo della loro vita.And there was warre betwen Asa, and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies.Bellum autem erat inter Asa, et Baasa regem Israël cunctis diebus eorum. 17And Baasa, king of Israel, went up against Juda, and built Rama, that no man might go out or come in of the side of Asa, king of Juda.E Baasa re d'Israele si avanzò ancora nel paese di Giuda, ed edificò Rama, affinchè nissuno potesse andare, e venire dalla parte di Asa re di Giuda.Baasa also the king of Israel went vp into Iuda, and built Rama, that no man might go out or come in of Asaes side the king of Iuda.Ascendit quoque Baasa rex Israël in Judam, et ædificavit Rama, ut non posset quispiam egredi vel ingredi de parte Asa regis Juda.
18Then Asa took all the silver and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hands of his servants: and sent them to Benadad, son of Tabremon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying:Quindi è, che Asa preso tutto l'argento, e l'oro, che era rimaso ne' tesori della casa del Signore, e ne' tesori della casa reale, lo messe in mano de' suoi servi, e li mandò a trovar Benadad figliuolo di Tabremon, figliuolo di Hezion, re della Siria, che abitava in Damasco, per dire a lui:Asa therfore taking al the siluer, and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of our Lord, and in the treasures of the kinges house, gaue it into the handes of his seruantes: and he sent to Benadad the sonne of Tabremon the sonne of Hezion, the king of Syria, which dwelt in Damascus, saying:Tollens itaque Asa omne argentum et aurum quod remanserat in thesauris domus Domini, et in thesauris domus regiæ, et dedit illud in manus servorum suorum: et misit ad Benadad filium Tabremon filii Hezion, regem Syriæ, qui habitabat in Damasco, dicens: 19There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: therefore I have sent thee presents of silver and gold: and I desire thee to come, and break thy league with Baasa, king of Israel, that he may depart from me.Siamo confederati io, e tu, e il padre mio, e il padre tuo: per questo io ti mando in dono dell'argento, e dell'oro, e ti prego di venire, e rompere la confederazione, che hai con Baasa re d'Israele, ond'egli si ritiri da me.There is a league betwen me and thee, & betwixt my father and thy father: therfore I haue sent thee giftes, siluer and gold: and I desire thee that thou come, and make void the league, that thou hast with Baasa the king of Israel, and he may retire from me.Fœdus est inter me et te, et inter patrem meum et patrem tuum: ideo misi tibi munera, argentum et aurum: et peto ut venias, et irritum facias fœdus quod habes cum Baasa rege Israël, et recedat a me. 20Benadad, hearkening to king Asa, sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel, and they smote Ahion, and Dan, and Abeldomum Maacha, and all Cenneroth; that is all the land of Nephthali.Benadad si prestò ai desideri del re Asa, e spedì i capitani del suo esercito contro le città d'Israele, ed espugnarono Ahion, e Dan, e Abel-casa di Maacha, e tutto il territorio di Cenneroth, viene a dire, tutta la terra di NephthaliBenadad agreing to king Asa, sent the princes of his armie into the citiees of Israel, and they stroke Ahion, and Dan, and Abeldomum of Maacha, and al Cenneroth, to witte, al the Land of Nephthali.Acquiescens Benadad regi Asa, misit principes exercitus sui in civitates Israël, et percusserunt Ahion, et Dan, et Abeldomum Maacha, et universam Cenneroth, omnem scilicet terram Nephthali. 21And when Baasa had heard this, he left off building Rama, and returned into Thersa.Udito ciò Baasa, tralasciò di edificare Rama, e se ne tornò a Thersa.Which when Baasa had heard, he intermitted to build Rama, and returned into Thersa.Quod cum audisset Baasa, intermisit ædificare Rama, et reversus est in Thersa.
22But king Asa sent word into all Juda, saying: Let no man be excused: and they took away the stones from Rama, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasa had been building, and with them king Asa built Gabaa of Benjamin, and Maspha.E il re Asa spedì suoi messi per tutto il paese di Giuda a dire: Nissuno goderà esenzione. E presero le pietre, e i legnami adoperati da Baasa agli edificj di Rama, e con essi il re Asa fabbricò Gabaa di Beniamin, e Maspha.But king Asa sent word into al Iuda, saying Let no man be excused and they tooke stones from Rama, and the timber therof, wherwith Baasa had built, and Asa of it built Gabaa Beniamin, and Maspha.Rex autem Asa nuntium misit in omnem Judam, dicens: Nemo sit excusatus. Et tulerunt lapides de Rama, et ligna ejus, quibus ædificaverat Baasa, et exstruxit de eis rex Asa Gabaa Benjamin, et Maspha. 23But the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his strength, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.Il resto poi delle azioni di Asa, e tutte le imprese di lui, e tutto quello, ch'egli operò, e le città fondate da lui. Queste cose non son elleno scritte nel Diario dei re di Giuda? Ma egli in sua vecchiaia patì di male di gambe.But the rest of al the wordes of Asa, and al his forces, and al that he did, & the cities that he built, are not these written in the Booke of the words of the dayes of the kinges of Iuda? How beit in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feete.Reliqua autem omnium sermonum Asa, et universæ fortitudines ejus, et cuncta quæ fecit, et civitates quas exstruxit, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro verborum dierum regum Juda ? Verumtamen in tempore senectutis suæ doluit pedes. 24And he slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David, his father. And Josaphat, his son, reigned in his place.E si addormentò coi padri suoi, e fu sepolto con essi nella città di David di suo padre. E Josaphat suo figliuolo gli succedette nel regno.And he slept with his fathers, & was buried with them in the citie of Dauid his father. And Iosaphat his sonne reigned for him.Et dormivit cum patribus suis, et sepultus est cum eis in civitate David patris sui. Regnavitque Josaphat filius ejus pro eo. 25But Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, reigned over Israel the second year of Asa, king of Juda: and he reigned over Israel two years.E Nadab figliuolo di Geroboam regnò sopra Israele il secondo anno di Asa re di Giuda: e regnò sopra Israele per due anni.But Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam reigned ouer Israel the second yeare of Asa the king of Iuda: and he reigned ouer Israel two yeares.Nadab vero filius Jeroboam regnavit super Israël anno secundo Asa regis Juda: regnavitque super Israël duobus annis.
26And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin.E fece il male nel cospetto del Signore, e segui le tracce di suo padre, e i peccati, a' quali quegli aveva indotto Israele.And he did that which is euil in the sight of our Lord, and walked in the waies of his father, and in his sinnes, wherwith he made Israel to sinne.Et fecit quod malum est in conspectu Domini, et ambulavit in viis patris sui, et in peccatis ejus quibus peccare fecit Israël. 27And Baasa, the son of Ahias, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and slew him in Gebbethon, which is a city of the Philistines: for Nadab and all Israel besieged Gebbethon.Ma Baasa figliuolo di Ahia della tribù d'Issachar gli tese insidie: e lo uccise presso Gebbethon città de' Filistei; perocché Nadab, e tutto Israele erano all'assedio di Gebbethon.And Baasa the sonne of Ahias of the house of Issachar, lay in wayte against him, and stroke him in Gebbethon, which is a citie of the Philistimes: for Nadab and al Israel besieged Gebbethon.Insidiatus est autem ei Baasa filius Ahiæ de domo Issachar, et percussit eum in Gebbethon, quæ est urbs Philisthinorum: siquidem Nadab et omnis Israël obsidebant Gebbethon. 28So Baasa slew him in the third year of Asa, king of Juda, and reigned in his place.Baasa dunque lo uccise l'anno terzo di Asa re di Giuda, e succedette a lui nel regnoBaasa therfore slew him in the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda, and reigned for him.Interfecit ergo illum Baasa in anno tertio Asa regis Juda, et regnavit pro eo. 29And when he was king, he cut off all the house of Jeroboam: he left not so much as one soul of his seed, till he had utterly destroyed him, according to the word of the Lord, which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias, the Silonite:E divenuto re, sterminò tutta la casa di Geroboam: non lasciò anima di quella stirpe, ma la distrusse interamente secondo la parola detta dal Signore per mezzo di Ahia Silonita suo servo:And when he reigned, he stroke al the house of Ieroboam: he leaft not so much as one soule of his seede, til he destroied him according to the word of our Lord, which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias the Silonite,Cumque regnasset, percussit omnem domum Jeroboam: non dimisit ne unam quidem animam de semine ejus donec deleret eum, juxta verbum Domini quod locutus fuerat in manu servi sui Ahiæ Silonitis, 30Because of the sin of Jeroboam, which he had sinned, and wherewith he had made Israel to sin, and for the offence wherewith he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel.(E ciò) in pena de' peccati, che avea commessi Geroboam, e avea fatto commettere ad Israele, e per la iniquità, colla quale avea irritato il Signore Dio d'Israele.for the sinnes of Ieroboam, which he had sinned, and wherwith he had caused Israel to sinne, and for the offence, wherwith he prouoked our Lord the God of Israel.propter peccata Jeroboam, quæ peccaverat, et quibus peccare fecerat Israël: et propter delictum quo irritaverat Dominum Deum Israël.
31But the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?Il rimanente poi delle azioni di Nadab, e tutto quello, ch'egli operò, non istà egli scritto nel Diario dei re d'Israele?But the rest of the wordes of Nadab, and al that he wrought, are not these thinges written in the Booke of the wordes of the daies of the kinges of Israel?Reliqua autem sermonum Nadab, et omnia quæ operatus est, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro verborum dierum regum Israël ? 32And there was war between Asa and Baasa, the king of Israel, all their days.E fu guerra tra Asa, e Baasa re di Israele, per tutta la loro vita.And there was warre betwen Asa and Baasa the king of Israel al their daies.Fuitque bellum inter Asa, et Baasa regem Israël, cunctis diebus eorum. 33In the third year of Asa, king of Juda, Baasa, the son of Ahias, reigned over all Israel, in Thersa, four and twenty years.L'anno terzo di Asa re di Giuda, Baasa figliuolo di Ahia ebbe il regno di tutto Israele, e regnò in Thersa ventiquattro anni.In the third yeare of Asa the king of Iuda, reigned Baasa the sonne of Ahias, ouer al Israel in Thersa foure and twentie yeares.Anno tertio Asa regis Juda, regnavit Baasa filius Ahiæ super omnem Israël in Thersa, viginti quatuor annis. 34And he did evil before the Lord, and walked in the ways of Jeroboam, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin.E fece il male dinanzi al Signore, e seguì le vie di Geroboam, e i peccati, che quegli fece commettere ad Israele.And he did euil before our Lord, & walked in the waies of Ieroboam, and in his sinnes, wherwith he made Israel to sinne.Et fecit malum coram Domino, ambulavitque in via Jeroboam, et in peccatis ejus quibus peccare fecit Israël.
15:1
Year of the World 3046, Year before Christ 958.
15:2
Challoner
Years, wanting some months. Maacha. She is called elsewhere, Michaia, daughter of Uriel; but is was a common thing, in those days, for a person to have two names. (Challoner)
Calmet
Abessalom and Absalom, the son of David are the same, 2 Paralipomenon 11:21. (Calmet)
Menochius
St. Jerome (Trad.) is of a different opinion. (Menochius)
15:4
Calmet
Lamp, son; (chap. 11:36.) though he deserved to have his family exterminated. (Calmet)
Worthington
He is preserved for his father's sake. (Worthington)
15:5
Tirinus
Hethite. This could not be excused. But all his other imperfections might not appear criminal in the eyes of the world, as they had some pretext of virtue; so that God reserves the judgment of them to himself, and to David's conscience, who confessed that he had sinned, 2 Kings 24:10. (Tirinus)
Haydock
Except David, Ezechias, and Josias, all the kings of Juda committed sin; (Ecclesiasticus 49:5.; Calmet) and not one of those who ruled over Israel, gave an example of virtue. (Haydock)
Sanchez
David soon entered into himself, with respect to his other failings. But he continued for a long time involved in the guilt of adultery and murder. (Sanchez)
15:6
Haydock
Roboam. This had been remarked, 3 Kings 14:30. (Haydock)
Calmet
There was a domestic quarrel between the two families. (Calmet)
Sanchez
Some suspect that Roboam is placed to designate his successors, or that we ought to read, Abia. (Sanchez)
Calmet
Castalion rashly ventures to alter the text. (Calmet)
Abiam gained a decisive victory over Jeroboam, ver. 7., and 2 Paralipomenon 13:3.
15:9
Year of the World 3049, Year before Christ 955.
Usher
Year complete, when the 21st was running on. (Usher)
Calmet
Septuagint, "the 24th." (Calmet)
Haydock
But Grabe's edition agrees with the Hebrew. (Haydock)
15:10
Challoner
His mother's, etc. That is, his grandmother; unless we suppose, which is not improbable, that the Maacha here named is different from the Maacha mentioned [in] ver. 2. (Challoner)
Menochius
She was probably another grand-daughter of David's son, (Calmet) as such are frequently styled simply daughters. So David is called the father of Asa, (ver. 11.; Haydock) though he was really his great-grandfather. (Menochius)
15:12
Calmet
Effeminate. See 3 Kings 14:24. Yet his zeal could not entirely eradicate this evil. There was room for the exertions of his son Josaphat, 3 Kings 22:47. (Calmet)
Haydock
The king punished with death such as he could discover. (Haydock)
15:13
Grotius
Priapus. He would not spare such abominations in his own family. (Menochius) He took from his mother the direction of the palace, (Vatable) and her guards. (Grotius)
Haydock
Hebrew, "even her he removed from being queen, because she had made a Miphlatstah." (Haydock)
Seldon
Septuagint render this term a synod, "meeting," or something shameful; also a cavern, or den; and in Paralipomenon, the "idol" Astarte. St. Jerome also gives different meanings; so that the precise import is not well known. Most people translate, "a scarecrow;" (Calmet) terriculum. In the gardens of Greece and of Rome, the figure of Priapus was set up (Du Hamel) to frighten thieves and birds away. Inde ego furum aviumque Maxima formido. (Horace, Sat. 1. 8.) Others understand that Pan, another frightening idol, is here meant; (Castalion) or the abominations of Phallus and Ithyphallus, derived from the same Hebrew word. (Seldon)
As the goddess Astarte, or Asera, "the grove," here the object of adoration, was the wife of Adonis, it is probable, that the same obscenities were carried in triumph, as Herodotus (II. 28., and 49.) specifies in the description of the festival of Bacchus, celebrated by the Egyptians.
Haydock
To him. Protestants, "She had made an idol in the grove." Hebrew also, "to Asera; and Asa destroyed her idol, (miphlatstah) and burnt it." (Haydock)
15:14
Challoner
The high places. There were excelsa, or high places, of two different kinds. Some were set up and dedicated to the worship of idols, or strange gods: and these Asa removed, 2 Paralipomenon 14:2. Others were only altars of the true God, but were erected contrary to the law, which allowed of no sacrifices but in the temple; and these were not removed by Asa. (Challoner)
Du Hamel
They had been built before the temple, and tolerated by the prophets; (Calmet) and, though they were now improper for sacrifices, (Haydock) Asa thought it would be imprudent to molest them, (Calmet) as perhaps he could not take them away. (Du Hamel)
Salien
He left also the ruins of (Haydock) the temples built by Solomon, (Worthington) on Mount Olivet, (4 Kings xxiii.; Menochius) as no longer dangerous. (Salien)
Challoner
Lord. Asa had his faults; but never forsook the worship of the Lord. (Challoner)
Haydock
In the same sense, David is so often praised as a just prince. Asa threw a prophet into prison, and placed his trust as much in physicians, etc., 2 Paralipomenon 16:10, 12. But he did penance, and deserves to be ranked (Calmet) among the few just kings of Juda. (Haydock)
15:15
Haydock
Vowed. Hebrew, "which he himself had dedicated," or vowed, 2 Paralipomenon 15:18. (Haydock)
Calmet
Asa made liberal presents to the Lord, and gave what his father had promised, (Menochius) probably during the famous battle against Jeroboam, 2 Paralipomenon 13:5. (Abulensis, q. 17.) Abiam was a wicked prince, and had neglected this duty, that heirs were bound to execute the vows of their parents, though Moses does not express it. (Calmet)
15:16
Haydock
Their days: not that they were always fighting. (Haydock)
Calmet
Open war was declared only in the 35th year of Asa, (2 Paralipomenon 15:19.) which must be dated from the schism, and not from the commencement of his reign; since his rival, Baasa, enjoyed the sovereignty only 24 years, and died in the 26th of Asa, which was the 36th from the division of the two kingdoms. Thus Hardouin observes that the years of Commodus, in some ancient Egyptians medals, are dated from the reign of M. Aurelius, chief of that family; so that the first of Commodus is inscribed the twenty-first of Aurelius. Asa defeated Zara in the fifteenth, and attacked Israel in the sixteen year of his reign. (Usher) (Tirinus) (Calmet)
Calmet
Others would substitute 25 for 35, (Grotius; Capel.) though contrary to the text, and to all the versions. (Calmet)
15:17
Year of the World 3051, Year before Christ 953.
Haydock
Rama, fortifying it with a wall all round, 2 Paralipomenon xvi. (Haydock)
Haydock
Rama signifies, "a height." This fort commanded a narrow pass, between the two kingdoms, (Calmet) and cut off all communication; which Baasa dreaded, lest his subjects should return to the service of the true God, and of Juda. (Haydock)
St. Jerome
Josue (xviii. 25.) mentions Rama, near Gaboan, (Calmet) about five miles north of Jerusalem. (St. Jerome)
Menochius
There was another towards the south. (Menochius)
Haydock
But there the king of Israel would have no power. (Haydock)
15:18
Haydock
House. Sesac had not carried off all the treasures, (Calmet) and the losses had been since in a great measure repaired, ver. 15. (Haydock)
Menochius
Asa thought himself justified in employing these treasures in such a pressing necessity, (Calmet) perhaps (Haydock) without reason, as the danger was not so great; and he might have gained the victory without having recourse to an infidel, if he had placed more confidence in God, 2 Paralipomenon 16:7, 9. (Menochius)
He had already discomfited Zara, king of Ethiopia, and had an army of 580,000 men. (Calmet) (2 Paralipomenon 14:8.)
Haydock
Tabremon, "Good Remmon," idol of Damascus. (Haydock)
Menochius
Hezion, the same with Razon, 3 Kings 11:23. (Menochius)
15:19
Haydock
League. The infidel is ready to take part with the best bidder. (Haydock)
Menochius
Benadad gains a double reward, as he plunders the conquered. (Menochius)
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Ahion, or Ain, remote in the north, whence Theglathphalasar took away captives, (4 Kings 15:29.) is perhaps the Enan of Ezechiel 48:1., and Numbers 34:9.
Maacha. In Paralipomenon, Abel-maim, "Abela of the waters," 2 Kings 20:14.
Ceneroth, near the sea of Tiberias, Josue 11:2. Benadad kept possession of some of these places, and even built streets in Samaria, 3 Kings 20:34.
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Calmet
Returned. So the Septuagint. Hebrew, "dwelt." (Calmet)
Calmet
He returned to protect his own dominions, (Menochius) and shut himself up in his capital. (Calmet)
15:22
Calmet
Excused. "When the country is to be defended, all exemptions cease." (Leg. ult.) (Calmet)
Calmet
Septuagint seem to preserve the terms of the original untranslated, "Asa called all....to Annacim." Hebrew en naki, (Haydock) means, "no one exempt." (Calmet)
Haydock
Rama belonged to the enemy; and, as it appears from this passage, was in the vicinity of Maspha. (Haydock)
15:23
Calmet
Strength. Septuagint, "dynasty," or power, whether of his dominions or of his person. (Calmet)
Feet, with the gout, (Menochius) three years before his death. He did not confide in the Lord sufficiently, 2 Paralipomenon 16:12. His body was embalmed or burnt, unless aromatic spices evaporated while it was laid on a bed of state, before it was consigned to the tomb, which Asa had prepared for himself in the city of David, 2 Paralipomenon 16:14.
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Year of the World 3050, Year before Christ 954.
Calmet
Two years, incomplete; since he commenced his reign in the second, and died in the third year of Asa, ver. 28. (Calmet)
Houbigant
Petau only allows him, "a few months;" and supposes, that he had been associated on the throne with Jeroboam. But this is unnecessary. (Houbigant)
Salien
Nadab was the first king of Israel, who fell a prey to the fury of his subjects. (Salien, the year before Christ 971.)
15:27
Calmet
Gebbethon, of the tribe of Dan, occupied by the Philistines. It was often attacked, 3 Kings 16:15. (Calmet)
Menochius
The occasion of this war is not known. (Menochius)
15:28
Year of the World 3051.
15:29
Worthington
Jeroboam. The author of schism is punished in his posterity. (Worthington)
Menochius
The body of Nadab was left unburied, 3 Kings 14:11. (Menochius)
15:33
Year of the World 3051.
15:2
Maacha, etc.... She is called elsewhere Michaia, daughter of Uriel; but it was common in those days for the same person to have two names.
15:10
His mother, etc.... That is, his grandmother; unless we suppose, which is not improbable, that the Maacha here named is different from the Maacha mentioned, ver. 2.
15:14
The high places.... There were excelsa or high places of two different kinds. Some were set up, and dedicated to the worship of idols, or strange gods; and these Asa removed, 2 Par. 14.2; others were only altars of the true God, but were erected contrary to the law, which allowed of no sacrifices but in the temple; and these were not removed by Asa.—Ibid. Perfect with the Lord.... Asa had his faults; but never forsook the worship of the Lord.
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Dauids postetitie conserued for his sake.
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Those altares which Salomon had made for his wiues, that were idolaters Asa destroved not. but al which Roboā and Abias had made, or suffered to be made for their owne people he pulled downe. Iosias afterward destroyed also those which Salomon had made 2. ••••l. 34.
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The a•••ou• of schisme punished in his posteritie.
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St Jerome † AD 420 Against the Pelagians 2
1 Kings xv. 11 . Asa, though a good man, was faulty.
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Aphrahat † AD 346 Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 6.3
… But Job rejected her counsel. King Asa also conquered the Accursed-of-life, when he wished to come in against him, through his mother.
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St John Chrysostom † AD 407 The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John 38
… and some proceed from different kinds of loose living, since gluttony, intemperance, and sloth, produce such like sufferings. But the one rule we have to observe, is to bear every stroke thankfully; for they are sent because of our sins, as in the Kings we see one attacked by gout (
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15:2
2. He reigned three years. — You will say: Verse 9, Abia is said to have died in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, therefore he reigned not three, but only two years: for from year 18 to 20, there are only two years. I answer that the year 18 must be numbered here, and it was the first year of Abia's reign, the second was 19, the third was 20 of Jeroboam's reign. Thus Abulensis, Cajetan, Salianus and others. Note here that in chronology a year is sometimes reckoned from the beginning, sometimes from the end: wherefore one year added or subtracted in chronology makes no difference. Furthermore, Abulensis here assigns three other modes of reconciling the different chronology, very useful and noteworthy. The first is through synecdoche, by which a part of a year, month, or day is put for a whole year, month, or day. Thus Christ is said to have been three days in the sepulchre, because through part of the first and third day he was in the sepulchre, but only on the second day entire did he remain in it. The second, that sometimes the years are numbered in which the son reigned with the father, sometimes however the years in which he himself reigned alone after the father. The third, that sometimes an interregnum is joined to the years of the following king or judge, as I showed in Judges, chapter III, sometimes not. Richard of St. Victor delivers the same modes, in the treatise On the Harmony of the Times of the Kings of Judah. THE NAME OF HIS MOTHER WAS MAACHA, DAUGHTER OF ABSALOM, — that is, "Absalom," as it is said in II Paralipomenon XI, 21. For in Hebrew Abisalom is the same as Absalom. Wherefore it is scarcely to be doubted that Absalom here is the son of David, of whom frequent mention was made in the second book: for we read of no other Absalom. Therefore Absalom is named here, because he himself from his deeds recounted in the second book was most well known to all Israel. Wherefore this "Maacha" is the same as "Thamar:" for Absalom begot this one daughter alone, as is evident from II Kings XIV, 27. Thus the Hebrews, Josephus, Lyra, Cajetan, Sanchez and others think. Therefore Abulensis and Salianus think less correctly that this Absalom is another than Absalom the son of David. You will say: In II Paralipomenon XIII, 2, this "Maacha" is called "Michaia daughter of Uriel of Gabaa." Cajetan answers that Absalom was a binomial, and was called by another name "Uriel," perhaps on account of beauty, because he was so beautiful that he would seem an Angel, and could be called "Uriel," that is, "light and splendor of God." Or certainly that Absalom was the natural father of Maacha; but Uriel was her legal father: which is difficult to conceive, since no son of David is read to have been called "Uriel," to whom, as to a brother without children dying, Absalom should have been obliged to raise up seed. It could be said more plainly that Maacha is called "daughter," that is, "granddaughter" of Absalom, after the manner of Scripture by which grandsons are called "sons." For it appears that Thamar, the only daughter of Absalom, married Uriel, and from him begot this Maacha, the wife of Roboam and mother of Abia. This is confirmed by various conjectures. For Uriel here was of Gabaa, which was a city in the tribe of Benjamin, he was therefore himself a Benjaminite; therefore Uriel is not Absalom: for he was of the tribe of Judah, equally as David. Secondly, because Thamar appears to have been at this time too advanced in age to marry Roboam. excused, or did not esteem. But this sin against Urias was held by all to be unjust, enormous and infamous; and therefore God, who does not allow such great and so scandalous sins to go unpunished, punished it severely. On account of this all evils befell David, and it was said to him by God that the sword would never depart from his house, and this is shown to have happened in fact here, when he adds that between Roboam and Jeroboam, as also with Abia, there were perpetual wars, slaughters and spoliations. Thus Abulensis, Cajetan and others. For she was born easily 12 or 13 years before the death of David (for her father Absalom was slain nine years before the death of David, as I said in the Chronology of David, at the end of II Kings). Add the 40 years of Solomon's reign, you will have 52 years of Thamar's life. Suppose indeed that Roboam married her before the death of Solomon: for from her he begot Abia, who dying after three years left his son Asa as successor to the kingdom. But Roboam reigned only 17 years: wherefore Abia appears to have been begotten by Roboam before he began to reign, so that when he died he would be more than 17 years old: for dying after three years he left his son Asa already advanced in age and fit for the kingdom. Suppose, I say, that it be thus; nevertheless it does not appear that he married her long before the death of Solomon, because he married her in the third place, as is evident from II Paralipomenon XI, 20; for the sons of kings before the kingdom and before the death of their father were not accustomed to multiply wives. Thirdly, because she is always called "Maacha," never Thamar, therefore she was not Thamar herself, but the daughter of Thamar. Fourth, because in verse 10 here, concerning Asa son of Abijah, the same thing is said as is said here concerning Abijah, namely: "the name of his mother was Maacha, daughter of Absalom." This Maacha therefore was either the same as Maacha mother of Abijah, so that she is called "mother," that is "grandmother" of Asa; or certainly she was his younger sister, as Cajetan says, so that she could be taken by Asa son of Abijah. Therefore Maacha was not Tamar, inasmuch as she had no sister, but was the only daughter of Absalom: therefore Maacha was the daughter of Tamar. Fifth, Josephus asserts this expressly, who, when he had previously called Maacha the daughter of Absalom, soon in book VIII, chapter III, calls her the granddaughter of Absalom, namely born from Uriel and Tamar.
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3. AND HE WALKED IN ALL THE SINS OF HIS FATHER, — worshipping idols of Rehoboam, permitting effeminates, etc.; these his son Asa removed along with the idols, as follows.
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4. THE LORD HIS GOD GAVE HIM A LAMP (that is a glorious and royal offspring, namely) THAT HE MIGHT RAISE UP A SON OF HIS AFTER HIM (so that Asa his son might succeed him in the kingdom); AND (through him) MIGHT ESTABLISH JERUSALEM, — establishing it in faith and worship of the true God, and thus likewise establishing its peace, riches and kingdom.
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5. Except the matter (that is the deed and fact, namely the murder) of Uriah the Hittite. — You will say: David committed many other sins, as when out of pride he numbered the people, which sin God punished with plague and the death of seventy thousand men, II Kings XXIV, 15, when he wished to kill Nabal and all his household, I Kings XXV, 21, when he took away from the innocent Mephibosheth half of his property, II Kings XIX, 29. But truly these sins were neither so grave as the adultery and murder of Uriah, nor so certain and condemned by the common people; indeed they had some veil and pretext of honesty and justice, at least among men, who therefore either
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6. YET THERE WAS WAR BETWEEN REHOBOAM AND JEROBOAM ALL THE TIME OF HIS LIFE, — as if to say: God on account of the merits of David wished to give him a "lamp," that is a royal posterity, namely Solomon, Rehoboam and Abijah; but yet on account of their sins, especially of idolatry, he caused them to have perpetual wars with Jeroboam.
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7. AND THERE WAS BATTLE BETWEEN ABIJAH AND JEROBOAM. — that is recounted at length in II Paralipomenon XIII, where it is said that Abijah led into battle four hundred thousand, but Jeroboam eight hundred thousand, and when these, being more numerous, surrounded them, they themselves invoked God, and by his aid from eight hundred thousand three hundred thousand fell.
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10. The name of his mother was Maacha daughter of Absalom, — that is of Absalom son of David. "Daughter," that is granddaughter, as is clear. For this Maacha mother of Asa is either the same as Maacha mother of Abijah, as Lyra and Serarius wish, so that she is called "mother," that is grandmother of Asa, just as in verse 3, David is called "father," that is grandfather of Abijah; or rather she was his younger sister, born from the same mother Tamar daughter of Absalom, as I said from Cajetan in verse 2, or certainly his granddaughter. Maacha in Hebrew is the same as compression, attrition, fixing, says Pagninus. This name seems to have been common to queens or daughters of the kings of Geshur: hence the daughter of the king of Geshur, whom David took, was called Maacha, who was the mother of Absalom, and from there Tamar daughter of Absalom called her daughter, who married Rehoboam, Maacha, and her sister, who married Abijah, she also called Maacha: for both the Hebrews and the Septuagint, our version and Josephus constantly call her the mother of Asa. In a similar way St. Paula, Melania, Macrina aunt of St. Basil, Eudoxia, Constantia, transmitted their name to their daughters and granddaughters. Furthermore, Maacha is named here "mother," or grandmother of Asa, so that the remarkable virtue and piety of Asa might be shown, in that, educated by so impious a mother, he nevertheless became so pious, and even removed his mother herself from the priesthood of idols. Thus Pliny, in book VII epistle, praises the young man Quadratus, because, living in the luxuries of his grandmother, he nevertheless lived most severely.
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13. MOREOVER HE ALSO REMOVED MAACAH HIS MOTHER FROM BEING PRINCESS (high priestess) IN THE SACRED RITES OF PRIAPUS. — In Hebrew it is literally, that she should not be mistress, because she made a horrible idol: where the Septuagint, the Chaldean, Vatablus, Pagninus and others, that she should not be mistress, interpret, that she should not be queen, that she should not rule the kingdom. Whence also Our Version, II Paralipomenon XV, 16, translates it, but also Maacah the mother of King Asa he deposed from the dignity of her station, because she had made in a grove a simulacrum of Priapus. Here however he translates, that she should not be princess in the sacred rites of Priapus; for this principality of the sacred rites of Priapus among the Jews and idolaters was a dignity of station, and the highest honor, so that אשר ascer, that is because, which, may be taken for באשר baascer, that is in that which she made an idol, namely in the worship of her Priapus. For Priapus in Hebrew is מפלצת miphletset, that is tremor, horror; thus Priapus was called, both because he was painted or carved in a foul and horrible form; and because by his horror he struck terror into thieves and birds wishing to plunder gardens, of which he himself was god and guardian; whence that passage of Horace, book I, satire 8 On Priapus: God therefore thence of thieves and birds The greatest terror. Hence also from the Hebrew miphletset, Priapus in Latin is called Phallus and Mutinus: for thus Juvenal calls him, Satire 5, Virgil and Ovid. Thus Serarius, Vatablus and Sanchez. Maacah therefore was obscene and sacrilegious, nay the princess of obscenity and sacrilege, and the queen of harlots and prostitutes, and therefore she consecrated a grove to her Priapus; because lust, being shameful, seeks groves, that is shady forests and darkness, by which it may hide its turpitude. Whence "grove" is said by antiphrasis, because it lacks light, and is dark. Thus Eucherius. Moreover the Hebrews worshipped Priapus by the name Beelphegor, as it were the god of obscenity, with most obscene rites and acts. See what is said Numbers XXV, 3. But Asa did these things at the beginning of his reign, when he was almost a boy; the greater therefore was his zeal and piety. Wherefore God rewarded this zeal of Asa: first, with happy and long peace; second, with the building of many cities; third, with a glorious victory, by which he laid low a thousand thousand Ethiopians, II Paralipomenon XIV, 7.
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14. But the high places he took not away. — Abulensis by "high places" understands temples built by Solomon for idols, which remained until Josiah, who destroyed them; in which matter, he says, Asa did not sin, nor Jehoshaphat, nor Hezekiah, because these temples had already been emptied, and were closed, and idols were not worshipped in them; wherefore since they were no longer scandalous, they were permitted for the future memory of the deed. Better does Cajetan understand "high places" as temples on mountains and high places dedicated to the true God, in which the Israelites sacrificed to the true God, which although they were forbidden by God, Asa prudently permitted them, lest the people's delight and custom of sacrificing on high places should draw him away from the worship of God to idolatry: zealous kings however, such as Hezekiah and Josiah were, removed the same: although it could be said that Asa sinned in that he permitted the high places, as he sinned in many other things, as I shall now say. YET THE HEART OF ASA WAS PERFECT WITH THE LORD ALL HIS DAYS. — "Perfect," understand in faith and worship of the one true God, and in the extermination of idolatry; for in many other things Asa sinned, as when being sick he did not hope in the Lord, but trusted in the art of physicians, of which presently. Also when distrusting God he gave the sacred vessels to the king of Syria verse 18, to avoid the war of the king of Israel. Again, when he cast the prophet who rebuked him into the stocks, that is into prison, and chains, and killed many of the people, II Paralipomenon XVI, 10. See Abulensis, Question XVIII.
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15. AND HE BROUGHT IN THE THINGS WHICH HIS FATHER HAD SANCTIFIED (that is dedicated, consecrated), AND HAD VOWED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
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18. THE GOLD THAT REMAINED IN THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD (the gold of the temple) etc., he sent to Benhadad. — Asa sinned in this matter, both in that he usurped and alienated the gold of the temple; and in that he placed his hope more in the impious Benhadad than in God, and therefore he was rebuked by the prophet, II Paralipomenon XV, 1.
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23. YET IN THE TIME OF HIS OLD AGE HE WAS DISEASED IN HIS FEET. — This matter is narrated more fully II Paralipomenon XVI, 12: "Asa," it says, "was diseased in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, with a most violent pain of the feet (gout), and neither in his infirmity did he seek the Lord, but rather trusted in the art of physicians;" and therefore he died: whence immediately it is subjoined: "And he slept with his fathers and died in the forty-first year of his reign."
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
15:1
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… The introductory formula contains: a) a synchronistic indication of the year of accession to the throne with reference to the co-reigning king of Israel (I Kings 15, 1, 9; 22, 41 etc.) or of Judah (ibid. 15, 25, 33; 16, 8, 15, 23, 29; 22, 52 etc.); b) the duration of the reign (ibid. 15, 2, 10, 25, 33; 16, 8, 15, 23, 29; 22, 42, 52 etc.); c) …
15:2
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… The introductory formula contains: a) a synchronistic indication of the year of accession to the throne with reference to the co-reigning king of Israel (I Kings 15, 1, 9; 22, 41 etc.) or of Judah (ibid. 15, 25, 33; 16, 8, 15, 23, 29; 22, 52 etc.); b) the duration of the reign (ibid. 15, 2, 10, 25, 33; 16, 8, 15, 23, 29; 22, 42, 52 etc.); c) a judgment on the character of the sovereign from the aspect of fidelity or less to religion. …
2. M., consort of Rehoboam king of Judah and mother of Abijah (I Kings 15:2; II Chron. 11:20-22), called the "daughter" of Absalom: she was in reality his granddaughter, since Absalom had only one daughter (II Sam. 14:27) named Tamar (her father, according …
15:3
… Since "his heart was not perfect before Yahweh," he would have been exterminated had God not shown him mercy for the promises made to David (I Kings 15:3 ff.).
15:7
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… practiced purely and simply the religion of Yahweh (Hezekiah: II Kings 18, 3 ff.; Josiah: ibid. 22, 2). The concluding formula contains: a) an indication of the source, to which the reader too is referred for fuller information (I Kings 14, 29; 15, 7, 25, 31; II Kings 8, 23; 10, 34 etc.); b) death and successor (I Kings 14, 31; 15, 8, 24; II Kings 8, 24; 10, 35 etc.). …
15:8
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… Josiah: ibid. 22, 2). The concluding formula contains: a) an indication of the source, to which the reader too is referred for fuller information (I Kings 14, 29; 15, 7, 25, 31; II Kings 8, 23; 10, 34 etc.); b) death and successor (I Kings 14, 31; 15, 8, 24; II Kings 8, 24; 10, 35 etc.). …
… In the 39th year of his reign, no longer able to govern because of the worsening of his infirmities, he associated his son Jehoshaphat with the kingdom. I Kings 15, 8-24, II Chron. 14, 1-16, 14 describe in greater detail the vicissitudes of the long reign, insisting on the partial religious defection of A., in conformity with the pedagogical-religious …
15:11
In the Old Testament 'ab (plural 'abbôth, in the el-Amarna texts abûti) takes on many derived meanings, based on the notions of origin, nurture and authority, semantically connected with fatherhood: 1) Grandfather (Gen. 28, 13), ancestor (I Reg. 15, 11, 24; in the plural it is frequent: Gen. 15, 15; Num. 14, 18; etc.), whence 'abbôthêm' "our fathers" (Eccli. 44, 1), frequent in the prayers of the Jews (cf. Berachoth, IX, 1), is equivalent …
… King Asa, successor of Abijah, broke and burned that idol, and in order to be freer in his religious reform he removed M., the principal promoter of idolatrous worship, from her rank of gēbhrāh or queen mother (I Kings 15:11-13). Gaetano Stano
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… and to A. (Judg. 2:13; 10:6; 1 Sam. 12:10) a cult that lasted until the last times of the two Israelite kingdoms; even King Solomon in his last years erected a temple to A. (1 Kings 11:5, 33). Eradicated by Solomon's third successor, King Asa (1 Kings 15:12-13), the cult of A. developed in the northern kingdom of Israel, since King Ahab married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, who introduced into her new homeland the …
15:14
… tabernaculum confirms the unity of the place of worship and prescribes for Israel the absolute centralization of the place of worship for the time when it will be in Palestine (vv. 8-12). Thus the text has been interpreted by later sacred authors: cf. I Kings 15:14; 22:24; II Kings 12:4; 14:4; 15:4-34. Particular prescriptions grant (Deut. 12:13-19), for the time prior to the complete occupation of Palestine, the private slaughter of animals, …
… It is enough to compare the parallel texts of P. with Samuel and Kings (for example, I Kings 15, 14; 22, 44 with II Chron. 14, 2-5; 17, 6; I Kings 22, 49 with II Chron. 20, 36 etc.). …
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… Before giving battle to Jeroboam, A. harangued the opposing ranks, affirming the inalienability of the rights of the house of David to reign over all the people of God (II Chron. 13:4-12). On the occasion of this war, A. made a vow, later fulfilled by Asa his son with rich gifts to the temple (I Kings 15:15; II Chron. 13:16-19). A. had 14 wives, 22 sons and 16 daughters. …
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Rama (Heb. Hā-Rāmāh = "The Height")
1. R. in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 18:25) on the Jerusalem-Bethel road (Judg. 4:5), north of Gibeah (Judg. 19:13; 1 Sam. 25:6), an outpost to the south of the Kingdom of Israel and fortified by King Baasha (1 Kings 15:17; 2 Chron. 15:1-6). After the fall of Jerusalem it became a collection center for prisoners deported to Babylon (Jer. 41:1). Repopulated after the exile by the Benjaminites (Ezra 2:26; …
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Benadad (Hebrew Ben-Hâdhad "Son of Hadad"; Septuagint ΥἹῸΣ ἈΔΈΡ)
B. I, son of Tabrimmon, because of the large gifts he received, went over to helping Asa, king of Judah (910-870), against Baasha, king of Israel (908-885), his ally, whom he inflicted a severe defeat upon (I Kings 15:18-20; II Chron. 16:1-5).
… 23-26). Asa, king of Judah, sought and obtained an alliance against Baasha (v.), king of Israel, with Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion (in the Septuagint: Εὐρῶμ), who then incorporated the northern provinces of Israel into his Damascene kingdom (I Kings 15, 18-20), and had a quarter in Samaria (I Kings 20, 34). Ben-hadad II (Adad-idri of the cuneiform texts), defeated by Ahab king of Israel, restored the provinces that his father had taken …
… In the fifth year of King Rehoboam (929), Shishak king of Egypt plundered the Temple and the royal palace (I Kings 14, 25); later King Asa (910) alienated a great part of the city's wealth to obtain the alliance of Ben-hadad, king of Syria, against Baasha, king of Israel (I Kings 15, 18; II Chron. 16, 2-3).
… Rezon ben 'Eliadha; in the Greek, codices B, L and in the Old Latin: Esrom, perhaps a transcription of the Heb. Hezyon [1 Kings 15:18], ancestor of Ben-hadad). …
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Abel (Hebrew 'Abhēl 'meadow'; possibly Aramaic from Canaanite 'Abil 'channel')
… Dan. Sheba took his stand there, pursued by Joab; but the city, "a mother in Israel," proverbially wise and peaceable, threw Sheba's head down from the wall to Joab, who lifted the siege (II Sam. 20:14-19). Benhadad took it from Baasha, king of Israel (I Kings 15:20; II Chron. 16:4). Tiglath-Pileser occupied it along with the other cities of Naphtali and deported its inhabitants to Assyria (II Kings 15:29). Today it is probably Abil el-Kameh, west of Banias.
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Thersa (Heb. Tirzah; Gr. Θεραΐ)
… After residing there for six years, Omri abandoned it to go and reside in Samaria (v.), the new capital (1 Kings 15:21, 33; 16:6-23). In 743 Menahem, probably governor of T., marched against Samaria, killing the king there; having seized power, he fought the resistance, devastating the territory of Thapsa …
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… Suweinit east of Geba and southeast of Michmash, managed to penetrate into the enemy camp, throwing it into confusion and freeing the region from the Philistines (I Sam. 13, 4; 14). Fortified by King Asa, it was the northern outpost of the Kingdom of Judah (I Kings 15, 22; II Kings 23, 8; II Chron. 16, 6). After the exile it was reoccupied by the Benjaminites (Neh. 12, 19).
Maspha (Heb. Mīspāh "Watchtower")
… of assembly of the Hebrews after the affair of Gibeah, where the wife of the Levite met an ignominious death (Judg. 20:1-2), and subsequently of other assemblies (1 Sam. 7:5-14; 10:17). It was fortified by Asa as a defense against the northern tribes (1 Kings 15:22; 2 Chron. 16:6). After the destruction of Jerusalem, Gedaliah established his residence there in the name of the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:23-25), and several Jews came to live there, …
15:23
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… Some are very wicked: Abijah (ibid. 15, 23 ff.), Ahaz (II Kings 16, 2 ff.), Manasseh (ibid. 21, 9) etc.; several practiced substantially the religion of David, but showed tolerance toward the worship of the high places (thus …
15:25
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… The introductory formula contains: a) a synchronistic indication of the year of accession to the throne with reference to the co-reigning king of Israel (I Kings 15, 1, 9; 22, 41 etc.) or of Judah (ibid. 15, 25, 33; 16, 8, 15, 23, 29; 22, 52 etc.); b) the duration of the reign (ibid. 15, 2, 10, 25, 33; 16, 8, 15, 23, 29; 22, 42, 52 etc.); c) a judgment on the character of the sovereign …
He reigned for two years: 909-908 (ibid. 15:25). He followed his father's policy of separating the northern tribes from Judah and from the Temple in order to make the schism between the two Kingdoms irreparable. …
15:26
1 and 2 (3 and 4) Book of Kings
… In this regard the kings of Israel are all compared to Jeroboam, who made his people sin (ibid. 15, 26 ff., 34; 16, 26 etc.). …
… Therefore J.'s gesture is severely condemned in Sacred Scripture as "an incentive to sin" for all Israel (1 Kings 12:30). And also afterward J. is pointed out as the one who led Israel into sin (cf. 1 Kings 15:26; 16:19, 26; 2 Kings 10:31; etc.).
… While he was besieging Gibbethon, he was killed by Baasha, an officer of his army, who usurped the Kingdom (ibid. 15:26 ff.). …
15:27
… defeated the P. and drove them back definitively within their original borders (2 Sam. 5:17-25; 8:1; cf. 22:15-22; 23:9-17). From then on the P. no longer undertook major campaigns against the Israelites, but rather there were disputes over borders (cf. 1 Kings 15:27; 16:15); indeed in time the Israelites took the offensive: King Uzziah (8th century) dismantled the cities of Gath and Jabneh and built fortresses in the Philistine region (2 Chron. …
15:31
… When the hagiographer cites literary sources, it must be supposed that in principle he approves of them (e.g., I Kings 11:41; 14:29; 15:31, etc.). …
15:33
Baasa (Hebrew: Ba'āh, 'Bold' or 'Wicked')
… The military setback alienated the favor of the people from him. The prophet Jehu ben Hanani foretold to him the extermination of his line in punishment for his idolatry (I Kings 15:33-16:7). Fulfilled under his son Elah (v.), the punishment remained famous in biblical history (ibid. 21:22; II Kings 9:9; Jer. 41:9).
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.