1 Kings 15:7

KJV

Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Abijam {H38}, and all that he did {H6213}, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063}? And there was war {H4421} between Abijam {H38} and Jeroboam {H3379}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Other activities of Aviyam and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah. But there was war between Aviyam and Yarov'am.

Berean Standard Bible

As for the rest of the acts of Abijam, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

American Standard Version

And the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 15:7 serves as a concise concluding statement regarding the brief reign of Abijam (also known as Abijah), King of Judah. This verse, characteristic of the historical summaries found throughout the books of Kings, points to more exhaustive external state records for a full account of his activities, while specifically highlighting a significant military conflict between Abijam and Jeroboam, the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It underscores the theological selectivity of the biblical narrative, which focuses on key events relevant to God's covenant relationship with His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the conclusion of the account of Abijam's three-year reign (1 Kings 15:1-8), serving as a standard regnal formula that transitions the narrative from Abijam to his successor, Asa. The preceding verses detail Abijam's sinfulness, following in the footsteps of his father Rehoboam, though he was granted a lamp in Jerusalem for David's sake ([1 Kings 15:3-5](/1-kings/15-3 "1 Kings 15:3-5 - Abijam's Sin and David's Legacy")). The rhetorical question about the "book of the chronicles" is a recurring literary device in Kings, signaling that the biblical author is drawing from and referencing official state annals, yet choosing to present only the most theologically pertinent details. The mention of the war is a specific highlight, indicating its importance within the broader narrative of the divided kingdom.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Abijam reigned over the Southern Kingdom of Judah from approximately 913-911 BC, succeeding his father Rehoboam. His contemporary in the Northern Kingdom of Israel was Jeroboam I, who had led the ten northern tribes in secession after Solomon's death. The period was marked by persistent political and military tension between these two newly formed kingdoms, both of which were descendants of Abraham and once united under a single monarchy. The "book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah" refers to the official court records or state annals maintained by the Judean monarchy, distinct from the canonical books of Chronicles. Such records were common in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms and served as primary historical sources for the biblical authors, lending historical grounding to their theological narrative.
* **Key Themes:** The verse contributes to several key themes prevalent in the books of Kings. Firstly, it exemplifies the **Regnal Formula** used consistently by the biblical author to summarize the reigns of kings, including details like length of rule, succession, and a concluding reference to external records. This formula underscores the books' systematic approach to history. Secondly, it highlights the **Theological History** nature of Kings; it is not merely a chronicle of events but a theological assessment of each king's fidelity to God's covenant, particularly concerning idolatry and the exclusive worship at the Jerusalem Temple. The brevity of Abijam's account, contrasted with the reference to more extensive chronicles, emphasizes the Bible's **Biblical Selectivity**, focusing on spiritual lessons rather than exhaustive historical detail. Finally, the explicit mention of "war between Abijam and Jeroboam" reinforces the theme of **Persistent Division and Conflict** between the two kingdoms, a tragic consequence of the kingdom's initial split as detailed in [1 Kings 12](/1-kings/12 "1 Kings 12 - The Division of the Kingdom"), which continued to plague God's people for centuries.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Chronicles (Hebrew, _divrei hayyamim'_):** This phrase literally means "the matters of the days" or "the events of the days." It refers to the official, non-biblical state annals or court records kept by the scribes of the Judean kings. These were comprehensive historical records, much more detailed than the biblical summaries, and served as a verifiable source for the biblical authors, attesting to the historical grounding of the narrative. The phrase indicates that the biblical account is a selective, theologically driven summary, not an exhaustive historical record.
* **War (Hebrew, _milchamah'_):** This term denotes a significant military conflict, not merely a skirmish or border dispute. The mention of "war" here is a concise summary of a major confrontation, which is elaborated upon in [2 Chronicles 13](/2-chronicles/13 "2 Chronicles 13 - Abijah's War with Jeroboam"), where it is described as a massive battle involving hundreds of thousands of troops. Its inclusion in this brief summary in Kings highlights its importance as a defining event of Abijam's reign, underscoring the ongoing animosity and division between the two kingdoms.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did":** This is a standard formulaic phrase used repeatedly in the books of Kings (e.g., [1 Kings 14:19](/1-kings/14-19 "1 Kings 14:19 - Jeroboam's Reign Summary"), [1 Kings 15:23](/1-kings/15-23 "1 Kings 15:23 - Asa's Reign Summary")). It serves as a comprehensive summary statement, indicating that Abijam's reign encompassed many deeds beyond what is explicitly recorded in the biblical text. It implies a wider scope of activities, policies, and events that are not deemed essential for the theological purpose of Kings.
* **"[are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?":** This is a rhetorical question, functioning as an affirmative statement. It confirms the existence of external, official historical records where a more complete account of Abijam's reign could be found. This device lends credibility to the biblical narrative by pointing to verifiable sources, while simultaneously highlighting the biblical author's selective focus on events that illustrate God's covenant faithfulness, judgment, or blessing.
* **"And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.":** This clause introduces a specific, significant event from Abijam's reign that the biblical author deems important enough to mention explicitly, even in a brief summary. This war was a major confrontation between the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel, reflecting the deep-seated political and spiritual division that followed the split of Solomon's kingdom. Its mention here foreshadows or summarizes the detailed account found in [2 Chronicles 13](/2-chronicles/13 "2 Chronicles 13 - Abijah's War with Jeroboam"), where the theological implications of Judah's reliance on God in this conflict are emphasized.

#### Literary Devices
1 Kings 15:7 employs several literary devices characteristic of the Deuteronomistic History. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question** ("are they not written in the book of the chronicles...?"), which serves to affirm the existence of external historical records and to validate the biblical narrative's historical basis, while subtly directing the reader to understand that the biblical account is a distilled, theologically purposeful history. The phrase "the rest of the acts... and all that he did" can be seen as a form of **Merism** or **Synecdoche**, representing the totality of Abijam's reign through a comprehensive, yet unspecific, summary. This verse is also part of the larger **Formulaic Language** or **Regnal Formula** that structures the accounts of kings in 1 and 2 Kings, providing a consistent framework for presenting each monarch's reign, including their accession, length of rule, and a concluding reference to their death and succession. This formulaic approach creates a sense of order and continuity within the historical narrative.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 15:7, though brief, is rich in theological implications. It underscores that the biblical narrative is not merely a secular history but a divinely inspired theological history, selectively presenting events to reveal God's character, His covenant faithfulness, and the consequences of human obedience or disobedience. The reference to external "chronicles" affirms the historical reality of the events while simultaneously highlighting the Bible's unique purpose: to interpret history through a divine lens, focusing on what matters from God's perspective. The ongoing "war" between Judah and Israel serves as a stark reminder of the destructive nature of division, particularly among God's people, a direct result of their corporate sin and departure from God's unified design for His kingdom. Despite the human conflict, the narrative implicitly points to God's ultimate sovereignty over the rise and fall of kings and nations, even in their brokenness.

* [2 Chronicles 13:3-19](/2-chronicles/13-3 "2 Chronicles 13:3-19 - Abijah's Victory and Reliance on God")
* [1 Kings 11:29-39](/1-kings/11-29 "1 Kings 11:29-39 - Ahijah's Prophecy of Division")
* [Proverbs 14:34](/proverbs/14-34 "Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness Exalts a Nation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This concise verse from 1 Kings 15:7 invites us to ponder the nature of history, both human and divine. Just as the acts of Abijam were meticulously recorded in earthly chronicles, so too are our lives, our choices, and our deeds observed and known by God. The Bible's selective focus reminds us that while much of our daily lives may seem mundane or unrecorded, what truly matters to God are our hearts and our fidelity to His covenant. The persistent "war" between Abijam and Jeroboam serves as a timeless warning against division and internal strife, particularly within communities of faith. It highlights how quickly common heritage and shared faith can devolve into animosity when self-interest and disobedience to God's ways take root. For believers today, this calls for a commitment to unity, reconciliation, and seeking God's peace, even when differences arise. We are called to live lives that reflect God's priorities, understanding that our ultimate "chronicle" is written in His eternal book.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Bible's selective historical account challenge our view of what is truly important in life, shifting our focus from exhaustive detail to theological significance?**
* **In what ways do we see "war" or division manifesting in our own communities or churches today, and what lessons can we draw from the conflict between Judah and Israel regarding the destructive nature of disunity?**
* **How does the knowledge that God records all our "acts" (even those not explicitly detailed in scripture) impact our daily living and our pursuit of faithfulness?**

### FAQ
**What are "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah"?**

Answer: These were official, non-biblical state archives or court records maintained by the scribes of the Judean monarchy. They contained detailed accounts of the kings' reigns, including administrative decisions, building projects, military campaigns, and other significant events. The biblical authors of Kings frequently refer to these "chronicles" (e.g., [1 Kings 14:29](/1-kings/14-29 "1 Kings 14:29 - Rehoboam's Reign in the Chronicles"), [1 Kings 16:5](/1-kings/16-5 "1 Kings 16:5 - Baasha's Reign in the Chronicles")) to indicate that their narrative is historically grounded and that more extensive information was available to their original audience, even though the biblical text itself provides a theologically selective summary.

**Why does Kings only mention the war briefly, while 2 Chronicles gives a detailed account?**

Answer: The books of Kings and Chronicles have different theological purposes and emphases. Kings focuses on the rise and fall of both kingdoms, assessing kings based on their obedience to the Mosaic covenant, particularly regarding idolatry and the worship of Yahweh alone. It often provides concise summaries. The books of Chronicles, written later, focus primarily on the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the Davidic dynasty, and the temple, aiming to encourage post-exilic Judah to return to faithful worship. [2 Chronicles 13](/2-chronicles/13 "2 Chronicles 13 - Abijah's War with Jeroboam") provides a detailed account of the war between Abijam (called Abijah in Chronicles) and Jeroboam because it highlights Abijah's reliance on the Lord and God's intervention to grant Judah a decisive victory, thereby emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and the divine protection of the Davidic line.

**What was the significance of the war between Abijam and Jeroboam?**

Answer: This war was a major military confrontation that solidified the ongoing division between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. While 1 Kings 15:7 mentions it briefly, [2 Chronicles 13:3-19](/2-chronicles/13-3 "2 Chronicles 13:3-3 - Abijah's Victory") describes a massive battle where Abijam, despite being outnumbered, secured a decisive victory over Jeroboam's forces. The Chronicler attributes this victory to Abijam and Judah's reliance on "the Lord God of their fathers" ([2 Chronicles 13:18](/2-chronicles/13-18 "2 Chronicles 13:18 - Judah's Victory Attributed to God")). This victory temporarily weakened the Northern Kingdom and affirmed Judah's position as the kingdom where the covenant promises to David were maintained, albeit imperfectly, demonstrating God's faithfulness even amidst the people's sin and division.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The historical records and the recurring theme of "war" in 1 Kings 15:7 ultimately point to the greater King and the ultimate peace found in Jesus Christ. The "chronicles of the kings of Judah" remind us that all human history is unfolding under God's sovereign gaze, leading to the grand culmination where all "acts" will be revealed before the throne of the one true King. This foreshadows the ultimate divine record, the [Lamb's Book of Life](/revelation/20-12 "Revelation 20:12 - The Books Opened"), in which the names of those redeemed by Christ are eternally inscribed. The perpetual "war" between Abijam and Jeroboam, a tragic consequence of human sin and division, highlights the profound need for a King who would not merely win earthly battles but bring true, lasting peace. Jesus, the Son of David, is the [Prince of Peace](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Prince of Peace"), who through His sacrifice on the cross, has broken down the dividing wall of hostility ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace")). He unites Jew and Gentile, creating one new humanity in Himself, transcending the divisions that plagued the earthly kingdoms of Judah and Israel. His victory is not over another nation, but over sin, death, and the powers of darkness ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities")). In Christ, the brokenness of the divided monarchy finds its glorious resolution, as He reigns as the King of kings, establishing an eternal kingdom of righteousness and peace that will never end ([Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - His Kingdom Will Have No End")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.