Author Archives: Joseph Malekani

1 Kings 16 Commentary Chapter 16 introduces the famous King Ahab. He is the son of King Omri. During the Omri-Ahab tenure, Israel enjoyed relative political stability, but godliness continued to decline. In fact, Ahab is described as having done more evil than all others before him.Ahab’s wife and partner in idolatry, Jezebel, is wellContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 16 Commentary”

1 Kings 15 Commentary Asa was a better king. He expelled the male shrine prostitutes and got rid of all the idols of his parents. He also deposed his grandmother from her position as queen mother for her involvement in idolatry. He would not be the last one to lose a family member on accountContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 15 Commentary”

1 Kings 14 Commentary Jeroboam turns to the LORD, not in repentance but to find healing for his sick son. The LORD announces Jeroboam’s downfall and that of his entire household. Unlike David, Jeroboam has sold himself to evil and remains unrepentant. It is strange that Jeroboam consults the LORD God through Abijah, instead ofContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 14 Commentary”

1 Kings 13 Commentary How times have changed! Under Moses’ time, Jeroboam’s idolatry would have been punished by death! Instead, Jeroboam is given a chance to repent. This is a chapter of extremes. The man of God who came from Judah delivers the LORD’s message to Jeroboam. Jeroboam doesn’t exactly repent, but he gets hisContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 13 Commentary”

1 Kings 12 Commentary Rehoboam’s foolish response sharply contrasts with his father’s famed wisdom. When the LORD gives wisdom, a nation flourishes. But when the LORD withdraws wisdom, the nation degenerates. The LORD God orchestrated Rehoboam’s impossible foolishness for a stated purpose – to humble David. We see the hand of the LORD behind eventsContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 12 Commentary”

1 Kings 11 CommentarySolomon dies. His forty years on the throne come to an end, but it is a disaster. A disappointment.The LORD had clearly forbidden Israel from intermarriage with the Canaanites. And he was in violation of another instruction that forbade Israelite kings from marrying many women. There are always good reasons when theContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 11 Commentary”

1 Kings 10 Commentary King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. Verse 23. This chapter presents the evidence of the above statement.The queen of Sheba comes to see for herself the great wealth and wisdom of Solomon. These are great times for the nation. The prosperityContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 10 Commentary”

1 Kings 9 Commentary The LORD appears to Solomon again. The message is simple: Obedience. Solomon has just completed a mega-church project. He has also achieved his dreams. Palaces have been built. He sits on his father’s throne with everything around him at his command. It is at this point that the LORD appears toContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 9 Commentary”

1 Kings 8 Commentary There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. Verse 9. All this trouble, for an almost empty box? Strange.Israel’s religion was very simple. It wasContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 8 Commentary”

1 Kings 7 CommentaryThe Chapter begins by giving us details of Solomon’s palace. The details are not needless. The holy script shows us the power of Solomon. It shows us the level of blessing as manifested in the size of the palaces that he built. It is the power and wealth of the nation ofContinueContinue reading “1 Kings 7 Commentary”