1 Kings 15 23

1 Kings 15:23 kjv

The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

1 Kings 15:23 nkjv

The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not 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.

1 Kings 15:23 niv

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.

1 Kings 15:23 esv

Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet.

1 Kings 15:23 nlt

The rest of the events in Asa's reign ? the extent of his power, everything he did, and the names of the cities he built ? are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. In his old age his feet became diseased.

1 Kings 15 verses

1 Kings 15 23 Meaning

This verse serves as a customary concluding summary for the reign of King Asa of Judah, indicating that the full scope of his activities—including his strength, accomplishments, and significant building projects—are extensively detailed in existing official records, specifically "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah." It directs the reader to further historical accounts for more in-depth information about his rule.

1 Kings 15 23 Context

1 Kings 15 details the reigns of Abijam and Asa in Judah, and Nadab, Baasha, Elah, and Zimri in Israel. The immediate context of verse 23 concludes the primary account of Asa's reign. Asa became king of Judah, generally proving to be a righteous monarch who removed idolatry and sought the Lord (1 Ki 15:11-14). The verse comes after describing his ongoing war with Baasha, king of Israel (1 Ki 15:16-22). Historically, this period reflects the persistent division of the united monarchy and the ongoing political and military conflicts between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The reference to "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" underscores the established practice of official state record-keeping in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms, affirming the historicity and accountability of the kings' actions.

1 Kings 15 23 Word analysis

• The rest of the acts (וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי, v'yeter divrey): This is a standard formula used extensively throughout the books of Kings (e.g., 1 Ki 11:41, 14:19, 15:7, 22:45). It functions as a literary marker, signaling that the current narrative about a specific king is concluding and that more comprehensive details about their reign can be found in a referred external source. It implies that the biblical account is selective, focusing on divinely significant events.
• Asa: King of Judah for 41 years (1 Ki 15:10). His early reign was marked by reform and reliance on the Lord, leading to a period of peace (2 Chr 14:1-5). His military might, as alluded here, was prominently displayed in his victory over Zerah the Cushite (2 Chr 14:9-15).
• all his might (וְאֶת-כָּל-גְּבוּרָתוֹ, v'et-kol-g'vurato): The Hebrew word gevurah implies strength, power, valor, or military prowess. This points to Asa's effectiveness as a ruler, his military successes, and his ability to govern with strength. For Asa, this gevurah was tied to divine enablement (2 Chr 14:11).
• all that he did: This phrase suggests a comprehensive scope of his actions, encompassing administrative, religious, and personal decisions beyond military campaigns and building projects. It affirms that the referenced "chronicles" contained a holistic account of his kingship.
• and the cities that he built: Kings often demonstrated their power, wealth, and strategic foresight through construction projects. Building or rebuilding fortified cities was crucial for defense and administration (e.g., Rehoboam in 2 Chr 11:5-10). Asa's building activities are specifically mentioned in 2 Chronicles 14:6-7, indicating these were notable achievements of his reign. These works strengthened Judah against external threats.
• are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? (הֲלֹא-הֵם כְּתוּבִים עַל-סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה, halo hem ktuvim al-sefer divrey haYāmîm l'malkhei Y'hûdâh): This rhetorical question affirms the existence and accessibility of these official state records. These "chronicles" are distinct from the canonical books of 1 & 2 Chronicles we have in the Bible, but rather were secular royal archives kept by scribes of the monarchy. They serve as a historical testimony to the accuracy and groundedness of the biblical narrative within a broader, documented history of the nation. It reflects the value placed on written records in ancient Israel and throughout the ancient Near East, supporting the truthfulness of the biblical account. The reference legitimizes the biblical summary by pointing to larger, well-known archives.

1 Kings 15 23 Bonus section

• The recurring "rest of the acts" formula across the books of Kings (used over 30 times) serves several functions:
  • Verifying Historicity: It acts as a reference note, lending credibility to the biblical account by suggesting that fuller, more detailed historical documents exist to back up the summary presented.
  • Narrative Economy: It allows the biblical author to remain concise, focusing only on theologically relevant events (e.g., kings' faithfulness to the covenant, their impact on the temple, the succession) while acknowledging other aspects of royal activity.
  • Literary Structure: It provides a consistent framework for organizing the reigns of various kings in both Judah and Israel.
  • Divine Oversight in History: By consistently pointing to a written record, it subtly reinforces the idea that all of human history, even outside the specific details provided in Scripture, is observed and recorded by a sovereign God.
• The "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah" and "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" were state annals or royal journals. These would have recorded daily events, military campaigns, building projects, economic transactions, and other official matters of the kingdom. They are not to be confused with the canonical Old Testament books of 1 & 2 Chronicles, which are themselves a divinely inspired theological re-narration of Israel's history from Adam through the exile, using some of these earlier sources, among others.
• Asa's full story in 2 Chronicles elaborates on both his praiseworthy deeds and later shortcomings, like relying on the physician instead of God in his final illness (2 Chr 16:12). This further depth is hinted at by the phrase "all that he did" in 1 Kings 15:23, implying that both positive and negative aspects would be covered in the complete record.

1 Kings 15 23 Commentary

1 Kings 15:23 exemplifies a key literary characteristic of the books of Kings: the regnal formula. This formula marks the end of a king's narrative segment, indicating that while the biblical account provides a theologically selective history, a more extensive and detailed secular record of the king's entire reign existed. It validates the information provided in Kings by pointing to external, known sources that the original audience could have consulted or recognized as authoritative. By specifically highlighting "all his might" and "the cities that he built," the verse emphasizes aspects crucial for a successful monarch in that era: military prowess and a strong national infrastructure. These were signs of a stable and secure kingdom under Asa's leadership, which, in 2 Chronicles, is notably attributed to his initial faithfulness to God. This literary device asserts the grounded nature of biblical history within verifiable, albeit external, historical accounts, demonstrating that God's plan unfolds within documented human events.