1 Kings 15 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Kings 15:25-16:7

Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years. 26 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.

27 Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. 28 Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.

29 As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. 30 This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.

31 As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned for twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: 2 ‘I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. 3 So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 4 Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.’

5 As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 6 Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.

7 Moreover, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam – and also because he destroyed it.

A. Find Out:

1. Who followed Jeroboam & what was he like? v.25,26
2. What happened to him? v.27,28
3. What more did Baasha do and why? v.29,30
4. What was Baasha like? v34
5. What did the Lord say about this? v.1-4
6. How was this acknowledged by the writer? v.5-7

B. Think:

1. How did Nadab fail?
2. How did Baasha fail?
3. How was prophecy seen to be fulfilled here?

C. Comment:

     Jeroboam, the first king of the northern tribes has died, and his son succeeds him. Unfortunately, it is a case of ‘like father, like son’, for Jeroboam had led Israel into idolatry and now Nadab, his son, continues it. His reign is limited to two years! Now we have to note early in these studies that there seems little correlation between how good or bad a king was and how long he reigned. There were times when the Lord specifically moved in and a king died prematurely, but there are other times where the Lord simply seems to have allowed the king’s life to run its course.

     Baasha assassinates Nadab while they are out at war. Then he goes on to wipe out Jeroboam’s entire family, just as the Lord had said would happen (14:10) so that there are no other claimants to the throne from that family.

     It is still a bad time and Baasha does nothing to improve the spiritual state of Israel and even seems to have openly condoned or even encouraged Israel ‘s idolatry. For this he is held accountable to the Lord and the Lord warns him that his family will also be wiped out. It is interesting to note that the Lord allowed him a 24 year reign and the judgement came on his family after his death, which didn’t seem to have been brought on by the Lord.

D. Application:

1. The Lord is slow to anger, allowing much time for repentance.
2. The Lord WILL do what He says, even if it takes years.