1 Kings 15:19 kjv
There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
1 Kings 15:19 nkjv
"Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."
1 Kings 15:19 niv
"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."
1 Kings 15:19 esv
"Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me."
1 Kings 15:19 nlt
"Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone."
1 Kings 15 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 15:16 | There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. | Earlier mention of the continuous war. |
| 1 Kgs 15:17 | Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah… | Specific act of aggression by Baasha. |
| 1 Kgs 15:18-20 | Asa took all the silver and gold… and sent them to Ben-Hadad… so Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent… | Asa's alliance with Aram leading to a temporary halt in conflict with Baasha. |
| 2 Chr 16:1 | In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah… | Parallel account of Baasha's attack. |
| 2 Chr 16:2-4 | Asa took silver and gold… and sent them to Ben-Hadad… And Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa… | Parallel account of Asa's reliance on Aram. |
| 2 Chr 16:7-9 | At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria…” | Prophetic rebuke for trusting human alliance over God. |
| 2 Chr 14:9-13 | Zerah the Cushite came out against them… Asa cried to the Lord his God… and the Lord defeated the Cushites… | Contrast Asa's early faith in God vs. later alliance. |
| 1 Kgs 11:11-13 | Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will tear the kingdom from you [Solomon]… but will leave one tribe…” | Prophecy of the divided kingdom. |
| 1 Kgs 12:16-19 | So when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them… Israel rebelled against the house of David… | Historical origin of the kingdom's division. |
| Deut 28:15, 25 | “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey… the Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies.” | Consequences of disobedience include defeat/war. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength… | Human reliance on strength is futile without God. |
| Prov 21:30-31 | No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle… | Divine sovereignty in outcomes of war. |
| Isa 31:1 | Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel… | Condemnation of relying on foreign alliances. |
| Jer 17:5-6 | Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. | Spiritual principle of trusting God vs. man. |
| Dan 2:40-43 | And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron… divided kingdom; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it… | Prophetic view of divided kingdoms, though referring to different era, still applicable. |
| Matt 24:6-7 | You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place… | Christ's prophecy of ongoing conflict in the world. |
| Jas 4:1 | What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? | Root cause of conflict (personal, can apply broadly). |
| Eph 2:14-16 | For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall… | Christ's work to bring unity and peace. |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And His name will be called… Prince of Peace. | Messianic prophecy of future peace. |
| Judg 21:25 | In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. | Disorder leading to internal conflict. |
| Neh 4:16-18 | Half of my servants worked on construction, and half held spears… building with one hand and holding a weapon with the other. | Living under constant threat/warfare (context of rebuilding, yet relevant to the readiness for conflict). |
1 Kings 15 verses
1 Kings 15 19 Meaning
This verse states a persistent state of conflict between King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel throughout their overlapping reigns. It emphasizes that the animosity and hostilities between the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah) were a constant feature of this period, marking an enduring division and strife within God's people. This ongoing war underscores the fractured nature of the once-united kingdom of Israel.
1 Kings 15 19 Context
1 Kings chapter 15 narrates the reigns of two kings: Abijam (or Abijah) and his son Asa in Judah, and Nadab (son of Jeroboam) and Baasha (who overthrew Nadab) in Israel. The chapter highlights the moral standing of each king before God. While Asa's reign begins with significant reforms, showing faithfulness by removing idolatry and promoting covenant obedience, he later makes a critical misjudgment. Verse 19 specifically details the continued hostile relationship between Judah and Israel under Asa and Baasha, which was an established fact of their co-reign (as first mentioned in 1 Kgs 15:16). The preceding verses (1 Kgs 15:17-18) describe Baasha's aggressive move to fortify Ramah, just a few miles from Jerusalem, threatening Judah. Asa's response was to forge an alliance with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram (Syria), using temple treasures to bribe him to attack Baasha's northern borders, thereby forcing Baasha to withdraw from Ramah. Verse 19 solidifies the perpetual state of conflict that defined this geopolitical landscape, reflecting the persistent division between the northern and southern kingdoms that began after Solomon's reign and was a recurring theme in the history of Israel and Judah.
1 Kings 15 19 Word analysis
- There was also war: The phrase
wə-mīl·ḥāmāh hāyətāh(וּמִלְחָמָה הָיְתָה) "and war there was" signifies a continuous and enduring state of hostility, not an isolated incident. The wordmilchamah(מִלְחָמָה) is the standard Hebrew term for "war" or "battle," emphasizing actual armed conflict. The inclusion of "also" (which can be implied or explicitly rendered depending on translation nuances of the waw conjunction) subtly connects it to the initial mention in verse 16, reinforcing its persistence. - between Asa and Baasha king of Israel: Identifies the specific belligerents.
- Asa: King of Judah, the southern kingdom, a descendant of David.
- Baasha: King of Israel, the northern kingdom, who came to power through regicide. This highlights the inter-familial strife within God's people, reflecting the fractured nation.
- King of Israel: Specifies the northern kingdom, a designation that clearly differentiates it from Judah, solidifying the national division.
- all their days: The Hebrew
kol yəmehem(כֹּל יְמֵיהֶם) literally "all their days," stresses the duration and persistent nature of the conflict. It means for the entirety of their concurrent reigns, the state of war was constant. This was not a temporary truce or an occasional skirmish but an ongoing reality of military readiness, strategic maneuvering, and potential outbreaks of direct confrontation.
1 Kings 15 19 Bonus section
The phrase "all their days" underscores the relentless nature of conflict when spiritual unity is fractured. This perpetual state of war reflects the tragic consequences of disobedience and division, originating from the initial sin of Solomon leading to the kingdom's split (1 Kgs 11-12). It contrasts sharply with the ideal of God's people living in peace under His covenant, offering a somber picture of Israel's internal struggle throughout this period of the divided monarchy. The verse implicitly raises questions about the long-term impact of reliance on human alliances rather than consistent, wholehearted faith in God, even when facing a clear external threat. This constant state of alert and conflict drained resources and focus, hindering the complete fulfillment of God's covenant blessings upon His people.
1 Kings 15 19 Commentary
1 Kings 15:19 provides a concise yet profound summary of the prevailing geopolitical climate between Judah and Israel during Asa's and Baasha's reigns. It underscores the deep-seated division and hostility that plagued the two kingdoms, a direct consequence of the spiritual rebellion initiated in previous generations. Despite Asa's general faithfulness to God in religious reforms, his political strategy here, relying on a foreign pagan king (Ben-Hadad) rather than trusting solely in the Lord (as he had done successfully against Zerah the Cushite, 2 Chr 14), highlights a pragmatic compromise of faith. The prophet Hanani later rebukes Asa for this very act (2 Chr 16:7-9), demonstrating that constant "war" on a physical front also revealed a spiritual battle in the hearts of kings. This verse signifies the enduring internal strife of a people once united under God, and serves as a somber reminder of how division and human strategies can replace divine dependence, perpetuating conflict instead of fostering peace.