The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 347

to have limited the ordinances of public worship to the temple would have been the more excellent way. (4) He encouraged the worship of Jehovah (see 2 Chron. xiv, 4). Not by precept only, but by example also. He dedicated to the Lord the things which his father had vowed, but either neglected to pay or died before he could caITy his purpose into effect. Also the spoil which he himself had taken from the Ethiopians (see 2 Chron. xv. 11, 12). Where the hee.rl of God's people is loyal the treasuries of His house will be full.-J. A. M. Vers. 16-24.-The War Policy of Asa. "Forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem" (ver. 10). The evil kings of Judah were about as numerous as the good, but their reigns were shorter. '' The wicked do not live out half their days." But though the reign of Asa was long and glorious, his war policy with Baasha was not creditable. I. THE OBJECT WAS RIGHT. 1. The war waB provoked by the enemy. (1) Baasha was the aggressor (ver. 17). War is such a fearful evil that whoever pro- vokes it is greatly culpable. (2) Therefore on Asa's part it was defensive. If human war is e,er defensible it is when defensive. 2. It was provoked by impiou8 inten- tion. (1) Asa had set his heart upon the refo1=ation of true religion, in which he was blessed by God with peace and prosperity (2 Chron. xiv. 1-7). (2) The more pious Ephrathites were attracted in great numbers to Jerusalem to join in the pure worship of the temple ; and the reformation was influencing the northern kingdom (2 Chron. xv. 9). (3) Baasha now feared, as Jeroboam did when he set up his calves (eh. xii. 26-28), that his people would return to the house of David. To pre- vent this he proceeded to fortify the frontier town of Ramah (2 Chron. xvi. 1). (4) This was to coerce the Ephrathites to transgress the law of God (see Deut. xiL 11 ; xiv. 23-26 ; xvi 2). To resist this persecution was as pious in Asa as the persecu- tion was impious in Baasha. IL THE MEANS WERE WRONG. 1. They were human. (1) Asa did not rely upon the Lord. ThiB was the less excusable since God had wrought such signal deliverance for him from the vast multitude of the Ethiopians (see 2 Chron. xiv. 9-15). What was the host of Baasha compared with that army ? (2) He did not even inquire of the Lord. Had God sanctioned his reconrse to Ben-hadad then had he been blame- less. (3) Though in other particulars he had listened to the advice of Azariah, the son of Oded, with blessed advantage, yet in this he had disregarded that advice (see 2 Chron. xv. 1, 2). 2. They u:ere unworthy. (1) What right had he to engage a heathen to fight with his brethren ? (2) What right had he to bribe a heathen to break his covenant (n•i~ purification) with Baasha, in which the blood of sacrifice had been sprinkled to express his purity of intention, as we now take the sacrament? What opinion could the heathen form of the religion of one who could otler a bribe for such a purpose? (3) What right had he to take the tree.sure of the temple for so.eh a purpose? III. THE succEss WAS PARTIAL, 1. The end was (JITl,Swered. (1) The Syrians attacked Israel in the north. The news of this drew Baashe. away from Ramah (vers. 20, 21). (2) This gave Asa the opportunity to demolish the fortifications in progress so as to open the road Baasha sought to close. He also removed the material so that the road might be kept open. (8) The material was useful to him in building Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 2. But the price was too great. (1) He missed an opportunity of spoiling the Syrians as he had spoiled the Ethiopians. This fact is revealed, though by what means Providence purposed to have brought it about is not disclosed (2 Chron. xvi. 7). (2) The treasures of the temple and of the palace were therefore needlessly alienated. (3) Hie brethren in " Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-Maachah, and all Cinneroth," or Gennesaret, "with all the land of Naphtali,'' were exposed to the horrors of the Syrian invasion. The heart of Israel would be alienated from Asa in consequence, and the reformation hindered. (4) Asa's own heart became hardened, else be would not have imprisoned Hanani, and oppressed some of his people (who probably sympathized with the prophet). (5) A.nd be inherited the judgment of wars to the end of his days. Aleo a disease in the feet, respecting which be sought to " physicians rather than the Lord'' (2 Chron, ni. 10, 12). OB, XV, 1-24.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 868