Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 15:1-8
We have here a short account of the short reign of Abijam the son of Rehoboam king of Judah. He makes a better figure, 2 Chr. 13, where we have an account of his war with Jeroboam, the speech which he made before the armies engaged, and the wonderful victory he obtained by the help of God. There he is called Abijah - My father is the Lord, because no wickedness is there laid to his charge. But here, where we are told of his faults, Jah, the name of God, is, in disgrace to him, taken away from his name, and he is called Abijam. See Jer 22:24.
I. Few particulars are related concerning him. 1. Here began his reign in the beginning of Jeroboam's eighteenth year; for Rehoboam reigned but seventee…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Kings 15:3
his heart was not perfect with the Lord . . . , as the heart of David his father--(Compare Kg1 11:4; Kg1 14:22). He was not positively bad at first, for it appears that he had done something to restore the pillaged treasures of the temple (Kg1 15:15). This phrase contains a comparative reference to David's heart. His doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord (Kg1 15:5) is frequently used in speaking of the kings of Judah, and means only that they did or did not do that which, in the general course and tendency of their government, was acceptable to God. It furnishes no evidence as to the lawfulness or piety of one specific act.
Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 15:3
His heart was not perfect - He was an idolater, or did not support the worship of the true God. This appears to be the general meaning of the heart not being perfect with God.
John Gill on 1 Kings 15:3
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him,.... Having such bad examples as both parents to copy after; it chiefly respects idolatrous practices, see 1 Kings 14:23,
and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God; he did profess the true God, and worshipped him, but not wholly, and only, and sincerely; he worshipped other gods besides him: and so his heart was not
as the heart of David his father; who was a sole and sincere worshipper of God, never departed from him and his service.
