“But Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done.”
1 Kings 15:11
Summary
1 Kings chapter 15 recounts significant events during the reigns of Abijam and Asa, kings of Judah, and their interactions with Israel. Abijam, though he reigned for three years, is noted for perpetuating the sins of his father, Rehoboam, and for not fully turning away from the idolatry present in the nation. His brief reign is marked by conflict with Jeroboam, king of Israel, culminating in a skirmish that sees Abijam relying on the Lord's covenant with David to gain victory. Following Abijam, Asa ascends to the throne and initiates substantial reforms, seeking to rid Judah of idols and to restore proper worship of Yahweh. His reign is characterized by faithfulness and military success, marked by the defeat of Zerah the Ethiopian and a strategic alliance with Ben-hadad of Aram against Israel.