1 Kings 15 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: MT 15:2, MT 15:5, MT 15:9, MT 15:13, MT 15:15
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
1 Kings 15
Reform and the continuing call to a whole heart
Editorial Christian reading: the contrast of Abijam and Asa invites attention to fidelity in action; neither source’s qualifications are removed.
15:1–8 | Abijam’s reign and the Davidic lamp
Verse MT 15:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:1
In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam became king over Judah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:1
In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam son of Nebat’s reign, Abiou son of Rehoboam became king over Judah.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The accession year agrees. Greek adds son of Rehoboam and retains Abiou where Hebrew has Abijam, as at 14:31.
Verse MT 15:2 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:2
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:2
He reigned six years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Absalom.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The reign lengths differ, three and six, and Greek lacks Jerusalem here. Abishalom and Absalom preserve the forms of the maternal ancestor’s name; the verse does not explicitly identify him as David’s son.
Verse MT 15:3 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:3
He walked in all his father’s sins which he had committed before him. His heart was not whole with YHWH his God, like the heart of David his father.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:3
He walked in his father’s sins which he had committed before him. His heart was not whole with the Lord his God, like the heart of David his father.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew adds all to the sins. Both retain the father language for the immediate predecessor and the dynastic ancestor David; no missing generation is inserted into the verse.
Verse MT 15:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:4
Yet for David’s sake YHWH his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, establishing his son after him and preserving Jerusalem,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:4
For David’s sake the Lord gave him a remnant, establishing his children after him and preserving Jerusalem,
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew lamp contrasts with Greek remnant; Hebrew son is singular, Greek children plural. Greek lacks his God and the first in Jerusalem. The dynastic images remain distinct.
Verse MT 15:5 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:5
because David did what was right in YHWH’s eyes and did not turn aside from anything He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:5
because David did what was right before the Lord and did not turn aside from anything He commanded him all the days of his life.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew explicitly excepts the Uriah episode from David’s obedience; Greek lacks that exception. The difference materially changes the qualification of the royal appraisal. It does not establish that the Greek tradition lacks the Uriah narrative elsewhere.
Verse MT 15:6 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:6
There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No Greek verse 6.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew names Rehoboam here despite the surrounding Abijam account. The name is not silently changed to Abijam. A related war notice already occurred at 14:30.
Verse MT 15:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:7
The rest of Abijam’s acts and all he did—are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:7
The rest of Abiou’s acts and all he did—look, are these not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? There was war between Abiou and Jeroboam.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The royal record and war notice agree, with the distinct Abijam/Abiou name forms. Greek adds look to the citation formula.
Verse MT 15:8 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:8
Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Asa his son reigned in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:8
Abiou slept with his fathers in Jeroboam’s twenty-fourth year and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Asa his son reigned in his place.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek adds the twenty-fourth-year date and with his fathers to the burial. The date is retained alongside its six-year reign in verse 2, without modifying the Hebrew’s shorter chronology.
15:9–15 | Asa’s reforms and consecrated property
Verse MT 15:9 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:9
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:9
In the twenty-fourth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: The accession dates differ, twentieth and twenty-fourth. Both refer to Jeroboam’s reign; no co-regency or alternative calendar is invented to reconcile them.
Verse MT 15:10 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:10
He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:10
He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Ana daughter of Absalom.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The duration and city agree, but the maternal names differ, Maacah and Ana. Mother preserves the source’s kinship term; a grandmother or dynastic-mother interpretation belongs in explanation, not as a silent textual replacement.
Verse MT 15:11 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:11
Asa did what was right in YHWH’s eyes, like David his father.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:11
Asa did what was right before the Lord, like David his father.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The favorable royal appraisal and comparison agree.
Verse MT 15:12 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:12
He removed the male cult attendants from the land and removed all the idols his fathers had made.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:12
He removed the initiatory rites from the land and expelled all the practices his fathers had carried out.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew names qedishim, the persons discussed at 14:24, and idols; Greek names teletai, initiatory rites, and practices. The distinction between persons, objects, and rites is retained. The precise Hebrew cult role remains provisional, and no ritual description is invented.
Verse MT 15:13 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:13
He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image for Asherah. Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the Kidron wadi.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:13
He also removed Ana his mother from being a leader, because she had held a gathering in her grove. Asa cut down her hiding places and burned them with fire at the Kidron wadi.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew names an image for Asherah; Greek describes a gathering in a grove and plural hiding places. Hiding places renders the difficult katadyseis provisionally; the precise structures are uncertain. The mother’s name and office also differ. No sexual rite, statue shape, or subterranean architecture is supplied beyond the wording.
Verse MT 15:14 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:14
The high places were not removed; nevertheless Asa’s heart was whole with YHWH all his days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:14
He did not remove the high places; nevertheless Asa’s heart was whole with the Lord all his days.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes the high places as not removed; Greek directly attributes the failure to Asa. Both preserve the qualification alongside the favorable heart appraisal.
Verse MT 15:15 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:15
He brought his father’s consecrated things and his own consecrated things into YHWH’s house: silver, gold, and vessels.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:15
He brought in his father’s pillars, and he brought his own pillars into the Lord’s house—silver and gold pillars, and vessels.
Classification & Notes
Disparate
Text: Hebrew names consecrated possessions; Greek names pillars twice, with silver and gold as adjectives. The objects are not translated alike. Greek’s repeated bringing is retained, and no conjectural correction replaces pillars with offerings.
15:16–24 | War, alliance, building, and Asa’s death
Verse MT 15:16 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:16
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:16
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel continually.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The continuing conflict and participants agree. Hebrew’s possessive their days and Greek’s all the days express the continuing royal conflict in context.
Verse MT 15:17 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:17
Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, to allow no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:17
Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, so there would be no one going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The building project and intended restriction of movement agree. Built is not expanded into an unrecorded siege plan or specification of the defenses.
Verse MT 15:18 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:18
Asa took all the silver and gold remaining in the treasuries of YHWH’s house and the treasures of the king’s house and gave them into his servants’ hands. King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:18
Asa took the silver and gold found in the treasuries of the king’s house and gave them into his attendants’ hands. King Asa sent them to the son of Ader, son of Tabrimmon, son of Azin, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying,
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew includes the Temple treasury and all remaining silver and gold; Greek names only the royal treasury. Greek gives son of Ader as a patronymic expression and Azin where Hebrew has Hezion. The corresponding Tabrimmon and Damascus forms are normalized, without harmonizing the whole genealogy.
Verse MT 15:19 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:19
“There is a covenant between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so he will withdraw from me.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:19
“Make a covenant between me and you, and between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you gifts of silver and gold. Come, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so he will withdraw from me.”
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew presents an existing covenant; Greek expressly commands making one, while retaining the reference to the fathers. Hebrew’s inducement term shohad can denote a bribe; gift retains the diplomatic object without judging it a neutral exchange. Greek has come where Hebrew has go.
Verse MT 15:20 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:20
Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent his army commanders against Israel’s cities. He struck Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Kinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:20
The son of Ader listened to King Asa and sent his commanders of forces against Israel’s cities. He struck Ain, Dan, Abelmaa, and all Chezrath, as far as all the land of Naphtali.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: The affected place lists differ: Ijon/Ain, Abel-beth-maacah/Abelmaa, and Kinneroth/Chezrath. Greek expressly has as far as; Hebrew’s linking preposition is less specific. The military actions and all named places are retained without an invented map identification.
Verse MT 15:21 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:21
When Baasha heard, he stopped building Ramah and stayed in Tirzah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:21
When Baasha heard, he stopped building Ramah and returned to Tirzah.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes dwelling or remaining in Tirzah; Greek expressly describes returning there. Both retain the halted building.
Verse MT 15:22 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:22
King Asa summoned all Judah, with none exempt. They carried away Ramah’s stones and timber with which Baasha had built. With them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:22
King Asa issued orders to all Judah as far as Ainakim. They carried away Ramah’s stones and timber with which Baasha had built. With them King Asa built the whole hill of Benjamin and the watchtower.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew none exempt becomes the Greek form Ainakim, treated provisionally as a destination. Hebrew names Geba and Mizpah; Greek has hill and watchtower. The different handling of these names is retained rather than silently converting all three Greek expressions into the Hebrew reading.
Verse MT 15:23 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:23
The rest of all Asa’s acts, all his mighty deeds, all he did, and the cities he built—are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? Yet in his old age he became diseased in his feet.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:23
The rest of Asa’s acts and all the power he exercised—look, are these not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? Yet in his old age he suffered in his feet.
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Greek gives a shorter achievement list without the cities he built. Hebrew states disease in the feet; Greek describes suffering there. The illness is not assigned a modern diagnosis or an unstated moral cause.
Verse MT 15:24 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:24
Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:24
Asa slept and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek lacks with his fathers after slept and his father after David. The burial and succession agree.
Violence repeats the sins it replaces
Editorial Christian reading: dynastic replacement does not itself bring conversion; the new rulers remain answerable to God.
15:25–32 | Nadab’s death and the end of Jeroboam’s house
Verse MT 15:25 Same
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:25
Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:25
Nadab son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
Classification & Notes
Same
Text: The accession synchronism, duration, and repeated kingdom designation agree. These notices stand alongside each source’s earlier chronology without recalculation.
Verse MT 15:26 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:26
He did evil in YHWH’s eyes and walked in his father’s way and in his sin by which he caused Israel to sin.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:26
He did evil before the Lord and walked in his father’s way and in his sins by which he caused Israel to sin.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Hebrew uses singular sin, Greek plural sins. The royal pattern and causation of Israel’s sin agree.
Verse MT 15:27 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:27
Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:27
Baasha son of Ahijah, over the house of Belaan, besieged him and struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the foreigners, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging Gibbethon.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew describes conspiracy and names Issachar; Greek uses a besieging verb and the difficult over-the-house-of-Belaan expression, retained provisionally. Foreigners renders Greek allophyloi; Hebrew names Philistines. No unsupported clan identification replaces Belaan.
Verse MT 15:28 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:28
Baasha put him to death in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:28
Baasha put him to death in the third year of Asa son of Abiou, king of Judah, and reigned.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds Asa’s descent from Abiou and lacks in his place. The killing and third-year date agree; the following context identifies Baasha’s succession.
Verse MT 15:29 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:29
When he became king, he struck down all Jeroboam’s house. He left Jeroboam no breathing person, until he had destroyed him, according to YHWH’s word which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:29
When he became king, he struck down Jeroboam’s house. He left Jeroboam no breath, until he had destroyed him, according to the Lord’s word which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: Both preserve the totalizing no-breath idiom and the fulfillment attribution. Hebrew explicitly has all the house. Him is collective dynastic language here; it is not rewritten to claim that the already deceased Jeroboam was killed again.
Verse MT 15:30 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:30
because of Jeroboam’s sins which he committed and by which he caused Israel to sin, provoking YHWH, the God of Israel, to anger.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:30
concerning Jeroboam’s sins, how he caused Israel to sin, and his provocation by which he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Hebrew explicitly includes the sins he himself committed; Greek connects the oracle concerning his sins with causing Israel to sin and provocation. The personal and communal wording is retained without adding an unrecorded offense by Nadab.
Verse MT 15:31 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:31
The rest of Nadab’s acts and all he did—are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:31
The rest of Nadab’s acts and all he did—look, are these not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The record citation agrees, with Greek’s additional look formula.
Verse MT 15:32 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:32
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
No LXX counterpart
[No Greek verse 32; compare verse 16.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent
Text: Hebrew repeats its earlier war notice. Greek retains verse 16 but lacks this repetition; no second Greek notice is supplied.
15:33–34 | Baasha’s reign
Verse MT 15:33 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:33
In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, reigning twenty-four years.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:33
In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over Israel in Tirzah, reigning twenty-four years.
Classification & Notes
Similar
Text: The accession year, capital, and twenty-four-year duration agree. Hebrew includes all before Israel.
Verse MT 15:34 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
MT 15:34
He did evil in YHWH’s eyes and walked in Jeroboam’s way and in his sin by which he caused Israel to sin.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
LXX 15:34
He did evil before the Lord and walked in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins, as he caused Israel to sin.
Classification & Notes
Different
Text: Greek adds son of Nebat and uses plural sins. Both close the reign notice with the repeated Jeroboam pattern, despite Baasha’s destruction of that dynasty.