Asa had become king of the kingdom of Judah several years earlier. He is said to have done a lot that is right in the eyes of the Lord (for example, in 1 Kings 15:11, 1 Kings 15:14). In 2 Chronicles 16:1–6 there is a record of an attack by Baasha in the territory of King Asa of Judah. And that was not the last time it happened. The many battles that these two small countries of Israel and Judah fought with each other meant that their energy was wasted on each other and that they could not play a significant role in the geopolitical relations of that time, as they could in the time of Solomon in particular. God, however, continued to view the two different nations as one people.
The writer adds a comment that is not the usual practice and may seem out of place. He has not formally introduced Nadab’s successor, Baasha, but he tells us, nevertheless, that there was war between this king of Israel and King Asa all their days.
This may indicate that the writer viewed 1 Kings 15:32 as not so much the conclusion of the narrative regarding Nadab as the wrapping up of loose ends concerning the narrative of Asa of Judah.
On the one hand, it is sad to see the covenant people of God at war among themselves. On the other hand, this statement stands in contrast to a later king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, who made peace and formed an alliance with the wicked Israelite king, Ahab. This was an act that nearly cost Jehosaphat his life. In many ways, Jehoshaphat was a better king than Asa, but Asa was wise enough to see that apostate Israel was an enemy.
32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.