Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 15:7. It’s a bit complex, but here's the gist: What it means: This verse tells us about a king named Abijam who was very busy and made a lot of decisions. It says that everything he did – all his actions – were recorded in a historical book called the “Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.” And, crucially, there was a big conflict between him and another king named Jeroboam. Let's unpack it layer by layer: “Now the rest of the acts of Abijam…” – This means we’re talking about all the things Abijam did after he became king. It’s a summary of his reign. “…and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” - This is a big question mark – “are they not”? This means the historical record about Abijam’s actions is already part of the official history of the kingdom of Judah. “And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.” – This is the key part! The verse says that Abijam and Jeroboam had a disagreement, leading to a fight. What does it tell us? This story shows that after Abijam became king, he made some very important decisions. He established a new religious system with two kings – one who followed the traditions of the old gods (like the prophets) and one who followed the teachings of Moses. This created tension and conflict. In short: This verse describes a time when a king’s actions were meticulously recorded in historical documents, and there was a fight between him and another king over religious beliefs and leadership. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? For example, we could go into: The significance of the Chronicles of Judah The role of Jeroboam What “acts” might have meant in this context (e.g., laws, ceremonies, etc.)