He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. Asa did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, as David his father did. He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.
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1 Kings 15:10-13 sits inside this longer paragraph.
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah. He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. Asa did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, as David his father did. He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days. He brought into Yahweh’s house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hand of his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, “There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”
Parallel Translations
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He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
Asa did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes, as David his father did.
He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.
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And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
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.
Show all 3 translations
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And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
And he put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
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Contradictions (2)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (41)
- Exodus 32:20 (v13) He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of…
- 1 Kings 22:46 (v12) The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.
- 2 Chronicles 14:2 (v11) Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh his God’s eyes;
- 1 Kings 15:2 (vv10, 13) He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
- 1 Kings 14:23-24 (v12) For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. There were…
Show all 39 cross-references
- 1 Kings 11:7-8 (v12) Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the…
- 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 (v12) Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh his God’s eyes; for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the…
- 2 Chronicles 15:17 (v11) But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
- Romans 1:26-27 (v12) For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.…
- 1 Peter 1:18 (v12) knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your…
- Jude 1:7 (v12) Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone…
- 1 Kings 15:3 (vv11–12) He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of…
- Leviticus 26:30 (v13) I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and cast your dead bodies upon the bodies of your idols; and my soul…
- Deuteronomy 7:5 (v13) But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and…
- Deuteronomy 9:21 (v13) I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as…
- Deuteronomy 13:6-11 (v13) If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul,…
- Deuteronomy 33:9 (v13) He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for…
- Joshua 6:24 (v13) They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only they put the silver, the gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron into the…
- 2 Samuel 15:23 (v13) All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the…
- 1 Kings 15:10 (v13) He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
- 1 Kings 15:13 (v10) He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and…
- 2 Kings 18:4 (v13) He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had…
- 2 Kings 23:6 (v13) He brought out the Asherah from Yahweh’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it…
- 2 Kings 23:12-15 (v13) The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which…
- 2 Chronicles 11:20-21 (v10) After her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter…
- 2 Chronicles 13:2 (v10) He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and…
- 2 Chronicles 14:11 (v11) Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help…
- 2 Chronicles 15:15-19 (v13) All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them.…
- 2 Chronicles 16:7-10 (v11) At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied…
- 2 Chronicles 34:4 (v13) They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the…
- Ezekiel 20:18-19 (v12) I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile…
- Zechariah 1:2-6 (v12) “Yahweh was very displeased with your fathers. Therefore tell them: Yahweh of Armies says: ‘Return to me,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I…
- Zechariah 13:3 (v13) It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you…
- Matthew 10:37 (v13) He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
- Matthew 12:46-50 (v13) While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. One said to him,…
- John 18:1 (v13) When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his…
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 (v13) Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
- Galatians 2:5-6 (v13) to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. But from those…
- Galatians 2:14 (v13) But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a…
39 distinct cross-references across this passage (41 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv10, 13 That is, his grandmother, as David is oft times…
That is, his grandmother, as David is oft times called father of them, whose grandfather he was.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv10–13 1Ki 15:10 And forty and one years reigned he…
1Ki 15:10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
Ver. 10. And forty and one years reigned he.] His father Abijam was soon cut off for his wickedness: Asa, that he might reform a state so far out of order, had a long reign granted him. Think the same of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Asa reigned in Judah, in the times of the reigns of eight kings in Israel.
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And his mother’s name was Maachah.] That is, His grandmother’s, who was a most wicked woman, nec tamen Asa mores eius retinuit, saith Vatablus, yet Asa kept himself uncorrupted by her, which was no small commendation. Pliny {a} praiseth young Quadratus, quod in deliciis aviae degens viveret tamen severisime, for that he lived strictly under the government of a loose grandmother.
{a} Epist., lib. vii.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv10–13 i. e. His grandmother’s, as appears from 1Ki 15:2,…
i. e. His grandmother’s, as appears from 1Ki 15:2, who is called his mother, as David is called Abijam’s father, 1Ki 15:3, and this Asa’s father, 1Ki 15:11. And so the names of father, and mother, and sons, and daughters are oft taken, both in sacred and profane authors, for grandparents and grandchildren. And his grandmother’s name may be here mentioned rather than his mother’s, because his mother was either an obscure person, or was long since dead, or indisposed or unwilling to take care of the education of her son, and so he was educated by the grandmother, who, though she did poison his father Abijam with her idolatrous principles, 1Ki 15:12, yet could not infect Asa, nor withhold him from prosecuting his good purposes of reforming religion; which is here remembered to his praise.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv10–13 But the high places were not removed,.... That is,…
But the high places were not removed,.... That is, such as had been used for the worship of God, before the temple was built, which yet now should have been removed, since sacrifice was now only to be offered there; but he might think they were still lawful, or the people had such an opinion of them, that it was difficult and dangerous to attempt to remove them; otherwise high places for idolatry were removed by him, Ch2 14:3,
nevertheless, Asa's heart was perfect all his days; he was sincere in the worship of God, and did everything to the best of his knowledge and capacity for restoring true religion, and destroying idolatry.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv10–13 Mother's - That is, his grandmother's, as appears from…
Mother's - That is, his grandmother's, as appears from ver. 2, who is called his mother, as David is called Abijam's father, ver. 3. And his grand-mother's name may be here mentioned, rather than his mother's, because his mother was either an obscure person, or was dead, or unwilling to take care of the education of her son, and so he was educated by the grand-mother, who, though she poisoned his father Abijam with her idolatrous principles, ver. 12, yet could not infect Asa, nor withhold him from prosecuting his good purposes of reforming religion.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv10, 12, 13 Verse 10. His mother's name] Our translators thought that…
Verse 10. His mother's name] Our translators thought that grandmother was likely to be the meaning, and therefore have put it in the margin.
The daughter of Abishalom.] She is called, says Calmet, the daughter of Absalom, according to the custom of the Scriptures, which give the name of daughter indifferently to the niece, the grand-daughter, and great grand-daughter.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv10, 12, 13 1Ki 15:10-11. His mother’s name — That is, his…
1Ki 15:10-11. His mother’s name — That is, his grandmother’s, as appears from 1Ki 15:2. She is called his mother in the same sense in which David is called Abijam’s father, 1Ki 15:3; that is, his progenitor. And his grandmother’s name may be here mentioned, rather than his mother’s, because his mother was either an obscure person, or was dead, or unwilling to take care of the education of her son, and so he was educated by the grandmother, who, though she poisoned his father Abijam with her idolatrous principles, (1Ki 15:12,) yet could not infect Asa, nor withhold him from prosecuting his good purposes of reforming religion. Asa did that which was right — As to the government of his kingdom, and the reformation and establishment of God’s worship; in the eyes of the Lord — That is right indeed which is so in God’s eyes. Those are approved whom he commendeth. As did David his father — Whom he made his pattern; worshipping the Lord alone, and taking away all idols, as it here follows.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv10, 13 Mother’s name - Rather, “grandmother’s.” The Jews cal any…
Mother’s name - Rather, “grandmother’s.” The Jews cal any male ancestor, however remote, a father, and any female ancestor a mother (compare 1Ki 15:2; Gen 3:20). This Maachah was the favorite wife of Rehoboam 2Ch 11:21, and the mother of Abijam. The way in which she is here mentioned strongly favors the notion that the position of queen-mother was a definite one at the court, and could only be held by one person at a time.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv10, 12, 13 His mother’s, &c. That is, his grandmother; unless we…
His mother’s, &c. 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) --- 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)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv10, 13 ASA'S GOOD REIGN. (Kg1 15:9-22)
ASA'S GOOD REIGN. (Kg1 15:9-22)
his mother's name was Maachah--She was properly his grandmother, and she is here called "the king's mother," from the post of dignity which at the beginning of his reign she possessed. Asa, as a constitutional monarch, acted like the pious David, laboring to abolish the traces and polluting practices of idolatry, and in pursuance of his impartial conduct, he did not spare delinquents even of the highest rank.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv10–13 ASA’S REIGN, 1Ki_15:9-24.
ASA’S REIGN, 1Ki_15:9-24.
10. His mother’s name was Maachah — She was his father’s mother, (see on 1Ki_15:2,) and therefore, properly speaking, his grandmother, as the margin rightly explains. The word אם, mother, like בן, son, and בת, daughter, is capable of such indefinite usage. Asa’s grandmother is mentioned here because of her prominent position as queen-mother, (compare 1Ki_15:13,) and as such she probably exercised the regal functions during the earlier years of his reign, while he was yet too young.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv10, 12, 13 10. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter…
10. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom] The most probable explanation of this clause, which is the same as in 1Ki_15:2 above, is that the word ‘mother’ is here used for ‘grandmother,’ and that Asa’s own mother sank into small importance in comparison with her mother-in-law. Clearly Maachah was a leader of the idol worship in the land, which made it necessary for Asa to deprive her of her influence. On the power wielded in the East by a queen-mother, see 1Ki_2:19 note. The LXX. (Vat.) gives ‘Ana’ as the name of Asa’s mother, and not ‘Maachah,’ but this is not supported by any other evidence.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv10, 11, 13 (10) His mother’s name was Maachah.—Maachah was (see 1Ki_15:2)…
(10) His mother’s name was Maachah.—Maachah was (see 1Ki_15:2) the wife of Rehoboam, and, therefore, grandmother of Asa. She appears, however, still to have retained the place of “queen-mother,” to the exclusion of the real mother of the king.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv10–13 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem…
And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem Corn. a Lapide points out that Ass saw eight kings of Israel on the throne, Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Tibni, Omri, and Ahab. And his mother"s or grandmother"s, as margin name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. The same words as in ver. 2, and the reference can hardly be to a different person. Bahr indeed questions whether can here stand for grandmother,
(1) because in every other case it designates the king"s mother,
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(2) Because the mother of the king, and not the grandmother, enjoyed the dignity and position of Gebirah (ver. 13; 2Ch_15:16) Some would read for Abishalom, Uriel of Gibeah; others, strengthened by the Michaiah of 2Ch_13:2, think the historian mistaken in mentioning the name of Abijam"s mother (ver. 2; 2Ch_11:21) as Maachah. The difficulty by no means admits of a ready solution, but perhaps the best explanation is that the grandmother, Maachah, Rehoboam"s favourite wife, retained her position, possibly by force of character, or because Asa"s mother was dead. It is not certain, however, that if the latter had lived she would have displaced Maashah, of whose influence and imperious temper we have several indications; e.g., in the appointment of her son, though not the firstborn, to succeed his father, and in her open maintenance of idol worship, and above all in the fact that she was publicly deposed by Asa.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v11 Asa did that which was right in the eyes…
1Ki_15:11-15
Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.
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The character of Asa
In Asa, King of Judah, we have one of the most melancholy, yet perhaps one of the most marvellous instances on record in the Holy Scriptures of the depravity of our nature. What strikes us in this prince is not merely that sort of inconsistency which is, more or less, part of every mans character; that strange admixture of opposing principles and motives which may be said to influence the actions of the generality of men; neither is it--what is a still more common evil among men--the succumbing to the power of any one evil disposition which is not sufficiently counteracted by a corresponding virtue. It is his failure in that very point in which the chief of his virtues seemed to lie--his faith and perfect confidence in God.
I. The impossibility of mans arriving at a sinless state of perfection so long as he is clothed with this mortality. In Asa we have a proof that a man may be perfect before God, and yet have sin. In many things we offend all, and If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves--if we were to infer that a state of faultless perfection were attainable in this world from the fact that there are many who, like Noah, Abraham, or Asa, are said to have walked perfectly with God, it would he difficult to reconcile such an inference with the sins they are known to have committed. When we find such injunctions as this--Walk thou before Me, and be thou perfect. It is plain that the word perfect must be interpreted in that sense of general uprightness of character which it is only possible to apply to the best of men in this world. The main difference between the righteous and unrighteous--and this we ought chiefly to bear in mind--lies in habitual character. It is this which God principally regards, and not occasional sins, grievous though they be. The pith of all true religion, the grand substance of the doctrines of both Old and New Testaments, is summed up for us at the conclusion of both--the last words of the Old Testament being: Then shall ye return and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not; while among the last utterances of the Holy Ghost speaking by St. John, are these: His servants shall serve Him--He that loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha. Thus the constant service of God is spoken of in both Testaments as the distinctive feature of the righteous.
II. The more practical lesson of caution in the manner of our daily walk. If Satan be suffered to exercise so great power over the hearts of the faithful servants of God, how watchful over our own hearts should we be! How necessary to each one of us the godly admonition of the apostle: Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall! And how are we to take heed lest we fall? By standing always in the grace of God--this is the secret of final perseverance; this is the secret of Asas heart being perfect all his days. It is a mere matter of history that the saving mercy of God is more generally shown to those in whom we find habitual goodness of heart to have pre-existed, or, more strictly speaking, by whom grace given has been constantly used and persevered in, than to those whose habit of life has been careless and negligent of Gods service. The case of a seemingly virtuous child being led astray might well presuppose a want of real hearty piety, or a degree of pride and self-confidence which has withdrawn the special care and love of God, and left that child a prey of his enemies. This is not, however, the case of a really righteous person fallen from his uprightness. In all this we have a strong caution. If habitual piety is never forgotten, and rarely goes unrewarded at last, how much ought we to be on our guard lest we lose aught of that piety, lest we slacken the fervour of our zeal, and suffer our love to grow cold, or even lukewarm; lest, in a word, we forfeit aught of that grace wherein alone we stand. (J. B. Litler, M. A.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v12 the cultic prostitutes
the cultic prostitutes
This probably refers to prostitutes who were associated with idol worship and who were all men. AT: "religious prostitutes" or "the prostitutes who worked for idols" or "male prostitutes"
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Asa cut down the disgusting figure
Since Asa was king, he may have told his officials to cut down the figure. AT: "Asa caused the disgusting figure to be cut down" or "Asa made them cut down the disgusting figure" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
prostitute
false god
queen
image
Asherah
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv10–11 15:10 forty-one years: The first ten years of Asa’s…
15:10 forty-one years: The first ten years of Asa’s long reign were peaceful (2 Chr 14:1-7), perhaps due to his father’s decisive victory over Jeroboam.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.