1 Kings 15:3

“And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him, etc.] Having such bad examples as both parents to copy after; it chiefly respects idolatrous practices, (see <111423>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.”

“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.”

“He walked in all the sins of his father - Yet Abijam prepared precious offerings for the temple service 1 Kings 15:15, probably to replace vessels which Shishak had carried off, and in his war with Jeroboam professed himself a faithful servant of Yahweh 2 Chronicles 13:10-12. return to 'Top of Page'”

“15:3-5 Despite Abijam’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to his covenant with David (2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 89:19-29) and preserved David’s line on Judah’s throne. Each king that followed David was to be a lamp, dispensing the light of God’s grace (1 Kgs 11:36).”

“all the sins: Kg1 14:21, Kg1 14:22 and his heart: Kg1 3:14, Kg1 11:4, Kg1 11:33; Kg2 20:3; Ch2 25:2, Ch2 31:20, Ch2 31:21; Psa 119:80 3 Kings (1 Kings) 15:4”

“Abijam walked as king in the footsteps of his father. Although he made presents to the temple ( Kg1 15:15), his heart was not שׁלם, wholly or undividedly given to the Lord, like the heart of David (cf., Kg1 11:4); but (כּי, after a previous negative) for David's sake Jehovah had left him a light in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and to let Jerusalem stand, because (אשׁר) David had done right in the eyes of God, etc., i.e., so that it was only for David's sake that Jehovah did not reject him, and allowed the throne to pass to his son. For the fact itself compare Kg1 11:13, Kg1 11:36; and for the words, "except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite," see 2 Sam 11 and 12. 3 Kings (1 Kings)…”