And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.

1 KINGS 15:9KJV
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1 Kings 15:9 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 15:9 mean?

1 Kings 15:9 places the beginning of Asa’s rule over Judah alongside the reign of Jeroboam, king of Israel. By using Jeroboam’s twentieth year as a date, the writer shows that the two men ruled neighboring kingdoms at the same time.

The verse follows the account of Abijam, the previous king of Judah. For the first hearers, the reference to Jeroboam would help place Asa’s reign within the history of both kingdoms.

Why 1 Kings 15:9 matters

  • Israel and Judah were separate kingdoms at this point. The verse calls Jeroboam “king of Israel” and says Asa “reigned” over Judah.
  • The shared date helps readers follow events on both sides of the border. Jeroboam’s reign provides the time marker for Asa’s arrival as king.

Where else these words appear

“Asa” Hebrew H609 · used in 52 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

“Jeroboam” Hebrew H3379 · used in 95 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 14:30 And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.
  • 2 Kings 15:8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.