John Gill

And Abijam rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa reigned in his place.

“And Abijam slept with his fathers,.... That is, died as they did: and they buried him in the city of David, in the sepulchre of his royal ancestors, David, Solomon, and Rehoboam: and Asa his son reigned in his stead; who perhaps was the eldest…”

and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.

“And forty one years reigned he in Jerusalem,.... Being a good king, had the blessing of a long reign, and reached, and even exceeded, the years of the reigns of David and Solomon: and his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom; that is…”

He banished the male shrine prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

“And he took away the Sodomites out of the land,.... Which were in the times of Rehoboam, 1Ki 14:24, and continued in his father's reign; those he took away, either by driving them out of the land, or by putting them to death according to…”

And he brought into the house of the LORD the silver and gold and other articles that he and his father had dedicated.

“And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated,.... The spoils he had taken in war from Jeroboam, and which he had devoted to religious uses, but lived not to perform his vows, which his son now did for him; so that it…”

Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.

“And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days: That is as long as they lived together; for Baasha died many years before Asa, and this must be reckoned from the time the war began between them.”

And Asa rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his father David, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place.

“And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father,....”

In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned two years.

“And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah,....”

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.

“And he did evil in the sight of the Lord,.... Committed idolatry, than which nothing is a greater evil in his sight: and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin: in making and worshipping of…”

As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam.

“And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam,.... That he might have no rival, or any that could pretend any title to the crown: he left not Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according…”

because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he had provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger.

“Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel.”

In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah twenty-four years.

“In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah,....”

Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.”

“Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat, and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.”

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.

“In the twenty sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.”

and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king.

“And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king,.... Tidings came to the army of what he had done, which was displeasing to them: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel…”

Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.

“And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him,.... He, and the army under him, broke up the siege of that place, and marched to Tirzah; which, according, to Bunting (c) were thirty six miles distant from each other: and they besieged Tirzah…”

At that time the people of Israel were divided: Half of the people supported Tibni son of Ginath as king, and half supported Omri.

“Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts,.... About the succession in the kingdom: half the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king: these were the friends of Zimri, or however such who did not like that the army…”

But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.

“But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord,.... Openly and publicly, as if it were in defiance of him: and did worse than all that were before him; taking no warning by the judgments inflicted on them, which aggravated his sins; and besides…”

However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, above all that were before him. Adding other idols to the calves, and those more abominable than they; since the other kings pretended to worship God in them, but he worshipped…”

And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the…

“And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,....”

So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household.

“And she went, and did according to the saying of Elijah,..... Made a cake for him first, and brought it to him, which showed great faith in the word of the Lord by him: and she, and he, and her house, did eat; many days…”

The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Elijah.

“And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.”

And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.

“And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah,.... In prayer, and answered it: and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived; this is the first instance of anyone being raised from the dead; this Satan has imitated; hence the many…”

So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,

“And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab,.... Which showed his cheerful and ready obedience to the will of God, and his great courage and magnanimity, to face a king enraged against him, and that sought his life: and there was a sore famine in…”

and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,

“And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house,.... Perhaps his steward: the Jews (m) take him to be Obadiah the prophet, who wrote the small prophecy that goes by his name: (now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:) who, though he did not…”

Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

“And as Obadiah was in the way,.... In his district, making his observations: behold, Elijah met him: where is not said; but he was, no doubt, upon the road from Zarephath to Samaria: and he knew him that is, Obadiah knew Elijah, having seen him…”