1 Kings 15

1 Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.

Abijam became king of Judah in the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, son of Nebat.

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.

He reigned in Jerusalem for three years. His mother's name was Maacah, daughter of Abishalom.

3 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.

Abijam committed all the sins his father had before him. He was not wholly dedicated to the Lord his God as his forefather David had been.

4 Nevertheless 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;

Even so, for David's sake, the Lord his God let his descendants to continue to rule like a lamp, a son to rule after him and to make Jerusalem strong.

5 because David did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, and didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

For David had done what was right in the Lord's sight, and had not deviated from anything the Lord commanded throughout his lifetime, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.

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

(Rehoboam and Jeroboam were always at war with each other.)

7 The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

The rest of what happened in Abijam's reign and everything that he did are recorded in the Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. Abijam and Jeroboam were always at war with each other.

8 Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place.

Abijam died and was buried the City of David. His son Asa succeeded him as king.

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.

Asa became king of Judah in the twentieth year of the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel.

10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.

He reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother's name was Maakah, daughter of Abishalom.

11 Asa did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, as David his father did.

Asa did what was right in the Lord's sight, as his forefather David had done.

12 He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

He expelled the cult prostitutes from the land and got rid of all of the idols that his forefathers had made.

13 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.

He even dismissed his grandmother Maacah as queen mother, because she had made a disgusting idol. Asa had the idol chopped down and burned in the Kidron Valley.

14 But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days.

Though the high places were not removed, Asa was completely committed to the Lord all his life.

15 He brought into the LORD’s house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils.

He brought into the house of the Lord the silver and gold and the other items that he and his father had dedicated.

16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, were always at war with each other.

17 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.

Baasha, king of Israel, attacked Judah and fortified Ramah to stop people coming from or going to Asa, king of Judah.

18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of the LORD’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,

So Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord's Temple and of the royal palace. He handed it over to his servants and sent them to Ben-hadad, son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, along with this message:

19 “Let there be a treaty between me and you, like that 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.”

“Let us make a treaty between us, just as there was between my father and your father. Look, I've sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with Baasha, king of Israel, so that he will retreat and leave me alone.”

20 Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

Ben-hadad accepted Asa's proposal and sent his army with its commanders to attack the towns of Israel. They captured the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Kinnereth, including all the land of Naphtali.

21 When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.

When Baasha heard about this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and retreated to Tirzah.

22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and King Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

Then King Asa issued a proclamation throughout all Judah, with no exception. The people obeyed, and carried away the stones and the timbers Baasha had used for building up Ramah. King Asa used these building materials to strengthen Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.

23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

The rest of what happened in Asa's reign, all his achievements, everything that he did, and the towns he built, are recorded in the Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. But when he grew old he had disease in his feet.

24 Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

Asa died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king.

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

Nadab, son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of the reign of King Asa of Judah. He reigned in Israel for two years.

26 He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.

He did what was evil in the Lord's sight. He followed the ways of his father and committed the same sins his father had made Israel commit.

27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.

Baasha, son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar, plotted a rebellion against him. Baasha murdered Nadab at the Philistine town of Gibbethon while Nadab and the whole Israelite army were besieging it.

28 Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed him and reigned in his place.

Baasha killed Nadab and took over as king in the third year of the reign of King Asa of Judah.

29 As soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam. He didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite;

As soon as he became king he killed all the rest of Jeroboam's family. He did not leave any of Jeroboam's descendants alive—he destroyed them all, as the Lord had said through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.

30 for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.

This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had made Israel commit, and because he had made the Lord, the God of Israel, angry.

31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

The rest of what happened in Nadab's reign and everything that he did are recorded in the Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, were always at war with each other.

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

Baasha, son of Ahijah, became king over all of Israel in the third year of the reign of King Asa in Judah. Baasha reigned in Tirzah for twenty-four years.

34 He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.

Baasha did what was evil in the Lord's sight and followed the way of Jeroboam and his sin, which he had made Israel commit.