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Texts -- 1 Kings 16:1-10 (NET)

Context
16:1 Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord this message predicting Baasha’s downfall : 16:2 “I raised you up from the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel . Yet you followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged my people Israel to sin ; their sins have made me angry . 16:3 So I am ready to burn up Baasha and his family , and make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat . 16:4 Dogs will eat the members of Baasha’s family who die in the city , and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country .” 16:5 The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes , are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel . 16:6 Baasha passed away and was buried in Tirzah . His son Elah replaced him as king . 16:7 The prophet Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord the message predicting the downfall of Baasha and his family because of all the evil Baasha had done in the sight of the Lord . His actions angered the Lord (including the way he had destroyed Jeroboam’s dynasty ), so that his family ended up like Jeroboam’s .
Elah’s Reign over Israel
16:8 In the twenty-sixth year of King Asa’s reign over Judah , Baasha’s son Elah became king over Israel ; he ruled in Tirzah for two years . 16:9 His servant Zimri , a commander of half of his chariot force , conspired against him . While Elah was drinking heavily at the house of Arza , who supervised the palace in Tirzah , 16:10 Zimri came in and struck him dead . (This happened in the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah .) Zimri replaced Elah as king .

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Bible Dictionary

  • Baasha

    [ebd] bravery, the third king of the separate kingdom of Israel, and founder of its second dynasty (1 Kings 15; 16; 2 Chr. 16:1-6). He was the son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar. The city of Tirzah he made the capital of his k...
    [isbe] BAASHA - ba'-a-sha ba`sha', "boldness"): King of Israel. Baasha, son of Ahijah, and of common birth (1 Ki 16:2), usurped the throne of Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, killed Nadab and exterminated the house of Jeroboam. He carri...
    [smith] (wicked), B.C. 953-931, third sovereign of the separate kingdom of Israel, and the founder of its second dynasty. He was son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar and conspired against King Nadab, (1 Kings 15:27) and killed h...
    [nave] BAASHA, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 15:16-22, 27-34; 16:1-7; 21:22; 2 Kin. 9:9; 2 Chr. 16:1-6; Jer. 41:9.

  • Elah

    [ebd] terebinth or oak. (1.) Valley of, where the Israelites were encamped when David killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19). It was near Shochoh of Judah and Azekah (17:1). It is the modern Wady es-Sunt, i.e., "valley of the acacia." "...
    [smith] (an oak, strength). The son and successor of Baasha king of Israel. (1 Kings 16:8-10) His reign laster for little more than a year; comp. ver. 8 with 10. (B.C. 928-7.) He was killed while drunk, by Zimri, in the house of ...
    [nave] ELAH 1. A valley where David killed Goliath, 1 Sam. 17:2, 19; 21:9. 2. An Edomite duke, Gen. 36:41; 1 Chr. 1:51. 3. Son of Caleb, 1 Chr. 4:15. 4. Father of Shimei, 1 Kin. 4:18. 5. Son and successor of Baasha, king of Isr...

  • Ahab

    [ebd] father's brother. (1.) The son of Omri, whom he succeeded as the seventh king of Israel. His history is recorded in 1 Kings 16-22. His wife was Jezebel (q.v.), who exercised a very evil influence over him. To the calf-worshi...

  • ISRAEL, HISTORY OF, 3

    [isbe] ISRAEL, HISTORY OF, 3 - V. Period of the Separated Kingdoms. 1. Contrasts and Vicissitudes of the Kingdoms: The two separated kingdoms differed materially. The kingdom of Ephraim was the more powerful of the two. It embraced...

  • Anger

    [nave] ANGER. Gen. 4:6; Gen. 49:7; 2 Chr. 28:9; Job 5:2; Job 19:29; Psa. 37:8; Psa. 55:3; Psa. 76:10; Prov. 6:34; Prov. 12:16; Prov. 14:17, 29; Prov. 15:1, 18; Prov. 16:14, 29, 32; Prov. 17:14; Prov. 19:11, 12, 19; Prov. 21:24; Pr...

  • Jehu

    [ebd] Jehovah is he. (1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chr. 2:38). (2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:3). (3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1 Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2...
    [isbe] JEHU - je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1 Ki 19:16,17; 2 Ki 9; 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of ...
    [smith] (the living). The founder of the fifth dynasty of the kingdom of Israel, son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 9:2) He reigned over Israel 28 years, B.C. 884-856. His first appearance in history is when he heard the warning of Eli...
    [nave] JEHU 1. The prophet who aounced the wrath of Jehovah against Baasha, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:1, 7, 12; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34. 2. Son of Nimshi, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 19:16; 2 Kin. 9:1-14. Religious zeal of, in slaying idol...

  • Zimri

    [ebd] praise-worthy. (1.) A son of Salu, slain by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, because of his wickedness in bringing a Midianitish woman into his tent (Num. 25:6-15). (2.) Murdered Elah at Tirzah, and succeeded him on the throne ...
    [smith] The son of Salu, a Simeonite chieftain, slain by Phinehas with the Midianitish princess Cozbi. (Numbers 25:14). (B.C. 1450.) Fifth sovereign of the separate kingdom of Israel, of which he occupied the throne for the brief pe...
    [nave] ZIMRI 1. A chief of Simeon, Num. 25:6-8, 14. 2. King of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:9-20; 2 Kin. 9:31. 3. Son of Zerah, 1 Chr. 2:6. 4. A Benjamite, 1 Chr. 8:36; 9:42. 5. An unknown place, Jer. 25:25.

  • Hanani

    [ebd] God has gratified me, or is gracious. (1.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chr. 25:4, 25). (2.) A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for entering into a league with Benhadad I., king of Syria, against Judah (2 Chr. 16:1-10)...
    [isbe] HANANI - ha-na'-ni (chanani, "gracious"): (1) A musician and son of Heman, David's seer, and head of one of the courses of the temple service (1 Ch 25:4,25). (2) A seer, the father of Jehu. He was cast into prison for his co...
    [smith] (gracious). One of the sons of Heman, and head of the eighteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 25:4,25) A seer who rebuked (B.C. 941) Asa king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 16:7) For this he was imprisoned. ver. 10 He...
    [nave] HANANI 1. Son of Heman, 1 Chr. 25:4, 25. 2. A prophet who rebuked Asa, king of Judah, 2 Chr. 16:7. 3. Father of Jehu the prophet, 1 Kin. 16:1, 7; 2 Chr. 19:2; 20:34. Possibly identical with 2. 4. A priest, Ezra 10:20. 5...

  • Tirzah

    [isbe] TIRZAH - tur'-za (tirtsah; Thersa): (1) A royal city of the Canaanites, the king of which was slain by Joshua (12:24). It superseded Shechem as capital of the Northern Kingdom (1 Ki 14:17, etc.), and itself gave place in tur...
    [nave] TIRZAH 1. A daughter of Zelophehad, Num. 26:33; 36:11; Josh. 17:3. Special legislation in regard to the inheritance of, Num. 27:1-11; 36; Josh. 17:3, 4. 2. A city of Canaan. Captured by Joshua, Josh. 12:24. Becomes the re...

  • ELAH (2)

    [isbe] ELAH (2) - e'-la. Son of Baasha, fourth king of Israel (1 Ki 16:6-14). He reigned two years, 888-887 BC. The statement that he came to the throne in the 26th year of Asa, reigned two years, and died in the 27th year of Asa, ...

  • Government

    [nave] GOVERNMENT Paternal functions of, Gen. 41:25-57. Civil service school provided by, Dan. 1:3-20. Maintains a system of public instruction, 2 Chr. 17:7-9. Executive departments in. See: Cabinet; King; Ruler; Statecraft. Ju...

  • Prophecy

    [nave] PROPHECY Concerning Jesus, See: Jesus. Concerning church, See: Church, Prophecies Concerning Prosperity of. Relating to various countries, nations, and cities, see under their respective titles. Respecting individuals, see...

  • ZIMRI (1)

    [isbe] ZIMRI (1) - zim'-ri (zimri, "wild sheep" or "wild goat"; in 1 Maccabees, with the King James Version, has Zambri; Codex Sinaiticus has Zambrei): (1) A Simeonite prince (Nu 25:14; 1 Macc 2:26), slain by Phinehas, Aaron's gran...

  • Arza

    [isbe] ARZA - ar'-za ('artsa'): A steward of King Elah, in whose house at Tirzah Zimri murdered the king at a drinking debauch. The text is not quite clear, and Arza might have been a servant of Zimri (1 Ki 16:9).
    [smith] prefect of the palace at Tirzah to Elah king of Israel, who was assassinated at a banquet in his house by Zimri. (1 Kings 16:9)
    [nave] ARZA, a steward of Elah, 1 Kin. 16:9.

  • Ingratitude

    [nave] INGRATITUDE. Of Mankind to God Num. 16:9, 10; Deut. 8:12-14 Deut. 6:11, 12. Deut. 28:47, 48; Deut. 31:16; Deut. 32:6, 15, 18 v. 13.; Judg. 2:10-12; Judg. 8:34, 35; Judg. 10:11, 13, 14 Neh. 9:25, 35; Psa. 106:7, 21; Jer. 2:...

  • Usurpation

    [nave] USURPATION. Of Political Functions By Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:1-12. By Adonijah, 1 Kin. 1:5-9. By Baasha, 1 Kin. 15:27, 28. By Zimri, 1 Kin. 16:9, 10. By Jehu, 2 Kin. 9:11-37. By Athaliah, 2 Kin. 11:1-16. By Shallum, 2 Ki...

  • ZIMRI (2)

    [isbe] ZIMRI (2) - (zimri; Septuagint Zambrei, Zambri): The 5th king of Israel, but who occupied the throne only seven days (1 Ki 16:9-20). Zimri had been captain of half the chariots under Elah, and, as it seems, made use of his p...

  • DOG

    [ebd] frequently mentioned both in the Old and New Testaments. Dogs were used by the Hebrews as a watch for their houses (Isa. 56:10), and for guarding their flocks (Job 30:1). There were also then as now troops of semi-wild dogs ...
    [isbe] DOG - kelebh; (compare Arabic kelb, "dog"); kuon; and diminutive kunarion): References to the dog, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, are usually of a contemptuous character. A dog, and especially a dead dog...

  • Tirza

    [ebd] pleasantness. (1.) An old royal city of the Canaanites, which was destroyed by Joshua (Josh. 12:24). Jeroboam chose it for his residence, and he removed to it from Shechem, which at first he made the capital of his kingdom. ...

  • Promotion

    [nave] PROMOTION, Psa. 75:6, 7; 78:70, 71; 113:7, 8. As a reward of merit, 1 Chr. 11:6. Instances of Abraham, Gen. 12:2. Joseph, from imprisoned slave to prince, Gen. 41:1-45. Moses, from exile to lawgiver, See: Moses. Aaron...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The fact that this book opens and closes with death should be a clue as to its message.It opens with David's death, and it closes with Ahab's death. The intervening period of about a century and a half is a story of national ...
  • I. The reign of Solomon chs. 1-11A. Solomon's succession to David's throne 1:1-2:121. David's declining health 1:1-42. Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne 1:5-533. David's charge to Solomon 2:1-94. David's death 2:10-12B. ...
  • Adonijah was David's fourth son (2 Sam. 3:4) and the eldest one living at this time. Evidently he believed it was more important that the eldest son succeed David, as was customary in the Near East, than that the king of Yahw...
  • The second major part of the Book of Kings records the histories of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.123During this era of 209 years (931-722 B.C.) the two kingdoms experienced differing relati...
  • During its history the Northern Kingdom had three capitals: first Shechem (v. 25), then Tirzah (14:17; 15:33), and finally Samaria (16:23-24). Perhaps the king strengthened Penuel in west-central Gilead as a Transjordanian pr...
  • Whereas the prophecy of the young prophet from Judah dealt with Jeroboam's religious cult, this one predicted the fate of his descendants.Jeroboam probably sent his wife to see Ahijah because that prophet had previously given...
  • Baasha's 24-year reign (909-886 B.C.), the third longest of any king of the Northern Kingdom, fell within that of Asa's rule over Judah (911-870 B.C.).Baasha had an outstanding opportunity to lead Israel back to true covenant...
  • The dynasties that Jeroboam and Baasha established were alike in several respects. Both were only two generations long. The first king in each dynasty reigned for a fairly long time, Jeroboam 29 years and Baasha 24. Assassins...
  • Again God told Elijah to "go"(v. 18; cf. 17:3, 9; 18:1; 19:15). As a faithful servant, he went to confront the king again.226Ahab was not in Samaria then (v. 18) but in Jezreel (v. 19). The mention of Samaria was evidently an...
  • Jezebel evidently painted her eyes and adorned her head (v. 30) to receive Jehu. Unwittingly, or perhaps deliberately,59she prepared herself for her own death. At least one interpreter believed she was trying to seduce Jehu.6...
  • 7:10 Amaziah, who was one of the apostate priests who served at the Bethel sanctuary (cf. 1 Kings 12:26-33), felt that Amos was being unpatriotic in what he was prophesying. So Amaziah sent a message to King Jeroboam II charg...
  • Evidently a woman claiming to be a prophetess (cf. Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9; 1 Cor. 11:5) had been influencing some in this church to join the local trade guilds without which a tradesman could not work in Thyatira. This meant pa...
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