I Kings 16: A Kingdom Adrift
Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the Lord against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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.
And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.
For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
In his days did Hiel the Beth–elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
I Kings 16 chronicles a period of intense instability and spiritual decline in the northern kingdom of Israel. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the far-reaching impact of leadership, both good and bad. It's a narrative filled with assassinations, short reigns, civil war, and a deepening descent into idolatry, ultimately setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and Ahab in the chapters to come. Let's dive in and explore the key events and their significance.
Divine Displeasure and Doomed Dynasties (I Kings 16:1-7)
The chapter opens with a prophetic word delivered by Jehu to Baasha. God, who had elevated Baasha from obscurity to the throne, now expresses His utter disgust with the king's wicked ways (I Kings 16:1-2). From a human perspective, Baasha's rise to power might have seemed like a personal triumph, a display of his own strength and cunning. However, the Bible reminds us that God is ultimately in control, orchestrating events according to His sovereign will. Nothing happens apart from His supernatural, providential working.
Baasha's sin was not merely generic evil; it was a specific, repeated offense: he walked in the ways of Jeroboam (I Kings 16:2). This meant embracing idolatry and leading the people astray. Consequently, God declares a similar judgment on Baasha as He had previously pronounced on Jeroboam: complete eradication (I Kings 16:3-4). His descendants would suffer a humiliating end, their bodies left to be devoured by animals, mirroring the fate prophesied for Jeroboam's line (see I Kings 14:10-11). This is a chilling example of divine irony: the very king God raised up to execute judgment on Jeroboam’s family would now face a similar fate because he imitated Jeroboam's idolatry and wickedness.
The author of I Kings acknowledges that Baasha’s reign included accomplishments achieved through his might (I Kings 16:5). These achievements were even recorded in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. However, the writer emphasizes that worldly success is meaningless in God's eyes if it is not accompanied by obedience and a life lived for His glory. Baasha's house was ultimately struck down (I Kings 16:7).
A Whirlwind of Violence and Instability (I Kings 16:8-22)
The consequences of Baasha's sin unfold rapidly. His son Elah, inheriting the throne, reigns for only two years before being assassinated by Zimri, one of his army commanders. Elah's demise occurs while he is drunk (I Kings 16:8-9), highlighting the moral decay that had permeated the kingdom.
Zimri, seizing power through treachery, swiftly executes God's judgment on the remaining members of Baasha's family (I Kings 16:10-13; see I Kings 16:1-4). Though Zimri acted as a tool for divine judgment, he was far from righteous himself. His reign is the shortest in Israel's history, lasting a mere seven days (I Kings 16:15).
While Zimri is busy consolidating his power, the army is engaged in besieging the Philistine stronghold of Gibbethon, the very place where Baasha had earlier killed King Nadab (see I Kings 15:27). Upon hearing of Elah's murder, the army revolts and proclaims Omri, their commander, as king (I Kings 16:16).
Omri leads his forces back to Tirzah, the capital, to overthrow Zimri. Faced with certain defeat, Zimri retreats to the citadel of the royal palace and sets it ablaze, perishing in the flames (I Kings 16:17-19). His death is attributed not only to his failed coup but also to the fact that he "did what was evil in the LORD's sight" (I Kings 16:19).
Even after Zimri’s demise, the chaos doesn't end. The people of Israel become divided, with half supporting Tibni and the other half backing Omri (I Kings 16:21). A civil war ensues, lasting six years, until Omri's faction, likely bolstered by the army's support, prevails. Tibni dies in the conflict, leaving Omri as the undisputed king (I Kings 16:22).
The story of Zimri illustrates how far the northern kingdom had descended into chaos.
Omri's Reign: A Legacy of Evil (I Kings 16:23-28)
Omri proves to be a strong and capable ruler, reigning for twelve years. He establishes a new capital in Samaria (I Kings 16:23-24), a city that would remain the center of the northern kingdom until its destruction by Assyria. However, Omri's political and military successes are overshadowed by his profound wickedness.
The biblical text states that Omri "did more evil than all who were before him" (I Kings 16:25). This is a shocking indictment, considering the numerous sins committed by his predecessors. Omri followed the ways of Jeroboam (I Kings 16:26), perpetuating idolatry and leading the people further away from God.
The Depths of Depravity: Ahab and Jezebel (I Kings 16:29-33)
The chapter culminates with the introduction of Ahab, Omri's son, who would surpass even his father in wickedness. Ahab's reign in Samaria lasted for twenty-two years (I Kings 16:29), and he quickly earned the title of Israel's worst king.
Walking in the sin of Jeroboam was not enough for Ahab. He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians (or Phoenicians), a woman who was fiercely devoted to Baal worship (I Kings 16:31). As a result, Ahab led Israel to worship Baal, the fertility god of the Canaanites.
Jezebel aggressively promoted Baal worship throughout Israel, and Ahab readily cooperated. He erected an altar and built a temple for Baal in Samaria (I Kings 16:32). Furthermore, Ahab made an Asherah pole (I Kings 16:33), representing the fertility goddess Asherah, Baal's consort. Through these actions, Ahab angered God more than any king who had come before him (I Kings 16:33). Jezebel, with Ahab's complicity, plunged Israel into unprecedented levels of idolatry.
Defiance and Divine Judgment (I Kings 16:34)
The chapter concludes with an account of Hiel, who rebuilds Jericho during Ahab's reign, defying the curse pronounced by Joshua (see Joshua 6:26). The curse stipulated that the builder would lose his firstborn and youngest sons, a price Hiel tragically pays.
This seemingly unrelated incident underscores the spiritual climate of Ahab's reign: a widespread disregard for God's Word. It also serves as a foreshadowing of the judgment that awaits Ahab. Just as God's Word was fulfilled in Hiel's case, it would also be fulfilled in Ahab's. No matter how long it takes, God does not forget His promises or His warnings.
I Kings 16 paints a grim picture of a kingdom spiraling out of control, led by rulers who prioritize their own power and desires over obedience to God. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of righteous leadership. This chapter sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and Ahab, a battle between the true God and the false gods that had captivated the hearts of the people of Israel.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the Lord against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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.
And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.
For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
In his days did Hiel the Beth–elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
I Kings 16 chronicles a period of intense instability and spiritual decline in the northern kingdom of Israel. This chapter serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the far-reaching impact of leadership, both good and bad. It's a narrative filled with assassinations, short reigns, civil war, and a deepening descent into idolatry, ultimately setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and Ahab in the chapters to come. Let's dive in and explore the key events and their significance.
Divine Displeasure and Doomed Dynasties (I Kings 16:1-7)
The chapter opens with a prophetic word delivered by Jehu to Baasha. God, who had elevated Baasha from obscurity to the throne, now expresses His utter disgust with the king's wicked ways (I Kings 16:1-2). From a human perspective, Baasha's rise to power might have seemed like a personal triumph, a display of his own strength and cunning. However, the Bible reminds us that God is ultimately in control, orchestrating events according to His sovereign will. Nothing happens apart from His supernatural, providential working.
Baasha's sin was not merely generic evil; it was a specific, repeated offense: he walked in the ways of Jeroboam (I Kings 16:2). This meant embracing idolatry and leading the people astray. Consequently, God declares a similar judgment on Baasha as He had previously pronounced on Jeroboam: complete eradication (I Kings 16:3-4). His descendants would suffer a humiliating end, their bodies left to be devoured by animals, mirroring the fate prophesied for Jeroboam's line (see I Kings 14:10-11). This is a chilling example of divine irony: the very king God raised up to execute judgment on Jeroboam’s family would now face a similar fate because he imitated Jeroboam's idolatry and wickedness.
The author of I Kings acknowledges that Baasha’s reign included accomplishments achieved through his might (I Kings 16:5). These achievements were even recorded in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. However, the writer emphasizes that worldly success is meaningless in God's eyes if it is not accompanied by obedience and a life lived for His glory. Baasha's house was ultimately struck down (I Kings 16:7).
A Whirlwind of Violence and Instability (I Kings 16:8-22)
The consequences of Baasha's sin unfold rapidly. His son Elah, inheriting the throne, reigns for only two years before being assassinated by Zimri, one of his army commanders. Elah's demise occurs while he is drunk (I Kings 16:8-9), highlighting the moral decay that had permeated the kingdom.
Zimri, seizing power through treachery, swiftly executes God's judgment on the remaining members of Baasha's family (I Kings 16:10-13; see I Kings 16:1-4). Though Zimri acted as a tool for divine judgment, he was far from righteous himself. His reign is the shortest in Israel's history, lasting a mere seven days (I Kings 16:15).
While Zimri is busy consolidating his power, the army is engaged in besieging the Philistine stronghold of Gibbethon, the very place where Baasha had earlier killed King Nadab (see I Kings 15:27). Upon hearing of Elah's murder, the army revolts and proclaims Omri, their commander, as king (I Kings 16:16).
Omri leads his forces back to Tirzah, the capital, to overthrow Zimri. Faced with certain defeat, Zimri retreats to the citadel of the royal palace and sets it ablaze, perishing in the flames (I Kings 16:17-19). His death is attributed not only to his failed coup but also to the fact that he "did what was evil in the LORD's sight" (I Kings 16:19).
Even after Zimri’s demise, the chaos doesn't end. The people of Israel become divided, with half supporting Tibni and the other half backing Omri (I Kings 16:21). A civil war ensues, lasting six years, until Omri's faction, likely bolstered by the army's support, prevails. Tibni dies in the conflict, leaving Omri as the undisputed king (I Kings 16:22).
The story of Zimri illustrates how far the northern kingdom had descended into chaos.
Omri's Reign: A Legacy of Evil (I Kings 16:23-28)
Omri proves to be a strong and capable ruler, reigning for twelve years. He establishes a new capital in Samaria (I Kings 16:23-24), a city that would remain the center of the northern kingdom until its destruction by Assyria. However, Omri's political and military successes are overshadowed by his profound wickedness.
The biblical text states that Omri "did more evil than all who were before him" (I Kings 16:25). This is a shocking indictment, considering the numerous sins committed by his predecessors. Omri followed the ways of Jeroboam (I Kings 16:26), perpetuating idolatry and leading the people further away from God.
The Depths of Depravity: Ahab and Jezebel (I Kings 16:29-33)
The chapter culminates with the introduction of Ahab, Omri's son, who would surpass even his father in wickedness. Ahab's reign in Samaria lasted for twenty-two years (I Kings 16:29), and he quickly earned the title of Israel's worst king.
Walking in the sin of Jeroboam was not enough for Ahab. He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians (or Phoenicians), a woman who was fiercely devoted to Baal worship (I Kings 16:31). As a result, Ahab led Israel to worship Baal, the fertility god of the Canaanites.
Jezebel aggressively promoted Baal worship throughout Israel, and Ahab readily cooperated. He erected an altar and built a temple for Baal in Samaria (I Kings 16:32). Furthermore, Ahab made an Asherah pole (I Kings 16:33), representing the fertility goddess Asherah, Baal's consort. Through these actions, Ahab angered God more than any king who had come before him (I Kings 16:33). Jezebel, with Ahab's complicity, plunged Israel into unprecedented levels of idolatry.
Defiance and Divine Judgment (I Kings 16:34)
The chapter concludes with an account of Hiel, who rebuilds Jericho during Ahab's reign, defying the curse pronounced by Joshua (see Joshua 6:26). The curse stipulated that the builder would lose his firstborn and youngest sons, a price Hiel tragically pays.
This seemingly unrelated incident underscores the spiritual climate of Ahab's reign: a widespread disregard for God's Word. It also serves as a foreshadowing of the judgment that awaits Ahab. Just as God's Word was fulfilled in Hiel's case, it would also be fulfilled in Ahab's. No matter how long it takes, God does not forget His promises or His warnings.
I Kings 16 paints a grim picture of a kingdom spiraling out of control, led by rulers who prioritize their own power and desires over obedience to God. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry, the consequences of disobedience, and the importance of righteous leadership. This chapter sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and Ahab, a battle between the true God and the false gods that had captivated the hearts of the people of Israel.