1 Kings 15 25

1 Kings 15:25 kjv

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

1 Kings 15:25 nkjv

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

1 Kings 15:25 niv

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

1 Kings 15:25 esv

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.

1 Kings 15:25 nlt

Nadab son of Jeroboam began to rule over Israel in the second year of King Asa's reign in Judah. He reigned in Israel two years.

1 Kings 15 verses

1 Kings 15 25 Meaning

1 Kings 15:25 records the commencement and brief duration of Nadab's reign as king over Israel, the northern kingdom. It specifically dates his ascension to the second year of Asa's reign in Judah and notes that Nadab ruled for only two years. This information serves as a crucial chronological marker within the divided monarchy, highlighting the instability and short-lived dynasties characteristic of the kingdom of Israel, in stark contrast to the longer Davidic lineage in Judah. It implicitly sets the stage for the swift fulfillment of prophecy concerning Jeroboam’s house.

1 Kings 15 25 Context

1 Kings 15 opens by providing synchronized chronological data for the kings of Judah and Israel, essential for dating the events of this period. Verses 1-8 describe the brief, yet relatively stable, reign of Abijam in Judah, followed by the longer and generally righteous reign of his son Asa (1 Ki 15:9-24). Amidst this, 1 Kings 15:25 pivots back to the Northern Kingdom to introduce Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, to provide his short reign's details before plunging into its violent end. This specific verse provides a temporal anchor, tying the timeline of Nadab's two-year rule directly to Asa's second year. The broader chapter highlights the ongoing idolatry in Israel, initiated by Jeroboam, and the consequential instability of its kingship, sharply contrasting with Judah’s more consistent (though not perfect) adherence to the Davidic line. Nadab’s brief rule immediately fulfills the prophecy pronounced by Ahijah the Shilonite against Jeroboam's house in 1 Kings 14, indicating divine judgment on Jeroboam's idolatrous dynasty.

1 Kings 15 25 Word analysis

• And Nadab: The name נָדָב (Nādāḇ) means "generous" or "willing." Irony permeates, as his reign was anything but "generous" or beneficial for Israel, being brief and steeped in the wickedness of his father. His quick downfall highlights divine judgment.
• the son of Jeroboam: This lineage is crucial. It immediately links Nadab to the founder of the Northern Kingdom's political and spiritual rebellion (1 Ki 12:26-33). Nadab inherited the throne as well as the pervasive idolatry and sin that characterized his father's reign (1 Ki 14:9). His actions were effectively a continuation of Jeroboam’s evil, thus drawing the predicted judgment.
• began to reign: This is a standard formula for royal succession. However, in Nadab's case, it precedes a remarkably short reign, indicating a lack of true divine establishment or longevity.
• over Israel: Refers to the Northern Kingdom, established after the division of Solomon's kingdom. Unlike Judah, which maintained the Davidic dynasty, Israel was plagued by frequent changes in ruling families through coups and assassinations, a direct consequence of their spiritual rebellion.
• in the second year of Asa king of Judah: This precise chronological synchronization is common in Kings, providing a crucial framework for dating events in the parallel histories of Judah and Israel. Asa (אָסָא, 'Āsā') means "healer" or "physician," and his reign in Judah was marked by religious reforms and relative stability, presenting a sharp contrast to Nadab's brief and ill-fated rule.
• and he reigned over Israel two years: The brevity of Nadab’s reign—only two years—is a strong indicator of its instability and, more importantly, a sign of divine disfavor and the impending judgment against Jeroboam's house, which soon follows through Baasha's coup (1 Ki 15:27-30). This short period serves as a prelude to the immediate fulfillment of prophecy.

1 Kings 15 25 Bonus section

The precise dating provided in this verse underscores the historical accuracy and detail found in the books of Kings. The brevity of Nadab's reign is a direct outworking of Jeroboam's "sin by which he made Israel sin" (1 Ki 14:16; 1 Ki 15:26). The repeated phrases in Kings regarding a king "walking in the ways of Jeroboam" indicate that Nadab followed this destructive path. His short reign exemplifies a recurrent pattern in the Northern Kingdom, where dynastic instability and violence became the norm due to its continued spiritual departure from the LORD and worship of false gods. This stands in stark contrast to God's enduring covenant with David for the throne of Judah (2 Sm 7:16).

1 Kings 15 25 Commentary

1 Kings 15:25 serves as a terse but weighty transitional verse, setting the immediate historical stage for a major turning point in the Northern Kingdom's monarchy. The brief mention of Nadab's two-year reign encapsulates the precarious nature of Israel's kingship, fundamentally tied to their continued national apostasy. As Jeroboam's direct heir, Nadab inherited a kingdom entrenched in idolatry, making his house ripe for the predicted judgment (1 Ki 14:10-11). This verse doesn't detail his actions, but his quick removal underscores the principle that God's word (through Ahijah's prophecy) would be fulfilled. The contrast with Judah's chronology, noting Asa's second year, implicitly highlights the different spiritual trajectories and governmental stability of the two kingdoms at this time. It also illustrates God's sovereignty over kings, raising up and casting down rulers according to His divine purpose and judgment on wickedness.