1 Kings 15: Israel’s Kings and Their Reigns – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | All Kings’ Evil Deeds, God’s Judgement, and Asa’s Righteousness

Engross yourself in the engaging events of 1 Kings 15 with this clear audio recording. This chapter describes the reigns of kings Abijam, Asa, Nadab, and Baasha, and their evil deeds that angers God. Witness how God’s judgement takes hold of these kings and their descendants. And in contrast, find hope and inspiration in the righteousness of King Asa. Perfect for Bible study, reflection, or meditation, allow the Scriptures to come alive in this powerful chapter.

1 KINGS 15 (NIV)

1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became
king of Judah,

2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name
was Maakah daughter of Abishalom.

3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not
fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had
been.

4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in
Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.

5
For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed
to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case
of Uriah the Hittite.

6 There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam throughout Abijah’s lifetime.

7 As
for the other events of Abijah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written
in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah
and Jeroboam.

8 And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the
City of David. And Asa his son succeeded him as king.

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah,

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

11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had
done.

12 He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of
all the idols his ancestors had made.

13 He even deposed his grandmother
Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive
image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron
Valley.

14 Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully
committed to the Lord all his life.

15 He brought into the temple of the Lord
the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.

16 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their
reigns.

17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to
prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

18 Asa then took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of
the Lord’s temple and of his own palace. He entrusted it to his officials and
sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram,
who was ruling in Damascus.

19 “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he
said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you a
gift of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so
he will withdraw from me.”

20 Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces
against the towns of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah and all
Kinnereth in addition to Naphtali.

21 When Baasha heard this, he stopped
building Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.

22 Then King Asa issued an order to all
Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber
Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and
also Mizpah.

23 As for all the other events of Asa’s reign, all his achievements, all he
did and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the annals of
the kings of Judah? In his old age, however, his feet became diseased.

24 Then
Asa rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his
father David. And Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king.

25 Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king
of Judah, and he reigned over Israel 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 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.