1 Kings 16 summary meaning ai explained commentary

1 Kings 16 meaning explained in AI Summary

Chapter 16 of 1 Kings details the reigns of four kings of Israel: Baasha, Elah, Zimri, and Omri, highlighting their wickedness, instability, and God's judgment.

Baasha's Reign (vs. 1-7):

Baasha, the son of Ahijah, continues to rule Israel in wickedness, following the ways of Jeroboam.
God sends the prophet Jehu to pronounce judgment on Baasha's dynasty, declaring that his entire family will be wiped out and their bodies left to be devoured by animals.

Elah's Reign and Assassination (vs. 8-14):

Baasha's son, Elah, becomes king but only reigns for two years.
Zimri, one of his officials, assassinates Elah while he is drunk in the house of his steward.
Zimri proceeds to kill off all remaining members of Baasha's family, fulfilling God's prophecy.

Zimri's Short-Lived Reign (vs. 15-20):

Zimri's reign is incredibly short-lived, lasting only seven days.
When the Israelite army, camped at Gibbethon, hears of Elah's murder and Zimri's usurpation, they proclaim their commander, Omri, as king.
Omri marches on Tirzah, where Zimri is holed up. Seeing defeat is imminent, Zimri sets fire to the palace and dies in the flames.

Omri's Reign and Legacy (vs. 21-34):

Omri faces opposition from Tibni, another claimant to the throne. The civil war lasts for four years before Omri emerges victorious.
Omri establishes his capital in Samaria, a strategically advantageous location.
Despite his political acumen, Omri is condemned for continuing the sinful practices of Jeroboam, leading Israel further astray from God.
The chapter concludes with the mention of Ahab, Omri's son, who will succeed him and become even more wicked than his predecessors.

Key Themes:

God's Judgment: The chapter emphasizes God's judgment on wicked kings and their dynasties. Baasha and his family are eradicated for their idolatry, while Zimri faces a swift and brutal end for his treachery.
The Cycle of Sin: Despite witnessing God's judgment, subsequent kings like Omri continue in the sinful ways of their predecessors, perpetuating a cycle of idolatry and disobedience.
Political Instability: The rapid succession of kings and the civil war between Omri and Tibni highlight the political instability that plagued the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

Chapter 16 sets the stage for the reign of Ahab, one of the most infamous kings in Israel's history, and his confrontation with the prophet Elijah.

1 Kings 16 bible study ai commentary

The overarching theme of 1 Kings 16 is the relentless and accelerating cycle of sin and judgment in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The chapter details a rapid succession of kings—Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab—each progressively more wicked than the last. It powerfully demonstrates that political power devoid of divine allegiance leads only to instability, violence, and deeper apostasy. God’s prophetic word is shown to be the ultimate authority, orchestrating the rise and fall of these dynasties as a direct consequence of their rejection of Him, culminating in the formal establishment of Baal worship under Ahab, which sets the stage for the ministry of the prophet Elijah.

1 Kings 16 context

Following the division of the kingdom, the Northern Kingdom of Israel immediately fell into apostasy under its first king, Jeroboam, who established an alternative religious system to prevent citizens from returning to Jerusalem to worship. This "sin of Jeroboam"—the golden calf cult at Dan and Bethel—became the benchmark for failure for all subsequent northern kings. The historical context is one of intense political volatility in the Ancient Near East, where military coups were common. However, the biblical narrative uniquely frames this instability not as mere political maneuvering, but as the direct, sovereign judgment of Yahweh upon faithless leaders and a disobedient nation.

1 Kings 16:1-7

Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, “Since I exalted you from the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, behold, I will consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat.” ... And also the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord... and also because he struck down the house of Jeroboam.

In-depth-analysis

The Prophetic Formula: The chapter opens with "the word of the LORD came," a formula emphasizing that the subsequent events are not random but divinely orchestrated. Jehu the son of Hanani is the divine messenger.
Divine Sovereignty: God states, "I exalted you from the dust." This counters any idea that Baasha rose to power by his own might. God raised him as an instrument of judgment against Jeroboam's house (1 Kings 15:27-29).
The Charge: Baasha's failure was twofold: 1) He continued the "sin of Jeroboam," proving to be no better than the dynasty he replaced. 2) Verse 7 adds a crucial detail: he is also judged "because he struck down the house of Jeroboam." This reveals a key principle: fulfilling God's judgment with sinful motives (ambition, violence) is itself a sin that incurs judgment.
Lex Talionis (an eye for an eye): The judgment pronounced is identical to the one on Jeroboam's house: total annihilation, with the unburied dead being consumed by scavengers—a mark of ultimate curse and dishonor in the ancient world.

Bible references

1 Kings 14:10-11: "...I will consume the house of Jeroboam... Him who dies of Jeroboam in the city the dogs shall eat..." (This shows the exact parallel nature of the judgment, highlighting a repeating pattern).
1 Kings 15:29: "...he struck down all the house of Jeroboam; he did not leave to Jeroboam any that breathed, according to the word of the LORD..." (Shows Baasha fulfilling the earlier prophecy he is now being judged for).
Hosea 1:4: "...I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel..." (Another example of a king, Jehu, being judged for carrying out God's judgment with wrong motives).

Cross references

2 Kings 9:7-10 (Jehu commissioned to destroy Ahab's house); Psa 75:6-7 (God is the judge); Psa 50:16-21 (rebuke for wicked actions); Isa 10:5-7 (Assyria as God's instrument, judged for its pride).

1 Kings 16:8-14

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned for two years. But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza... Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him... and reigned in his place... he struck down all the house of Baasha; he did not leave him a single male of his kinsmen or his friends. Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet...

In-depth-analysis

Vulnerability in Sin: King Elah is assassinated while "drinking himself drunk." His indulgence and lack of vigilance make him an easy target, a practical illustration of how sin leads to destruction.
Speed of Judgment: Elah reigns only two years. The fulfillment of God’s prophecy against Baasha's dynasty is swift and decisive.
The Instrument of Judgment: Zimri, a high-ranking military commander, becomes the new instrument of judgment, just as Baasha had been.
Thorough Annihilation: Zimri is exceedingly thorough, killing not only Baasha’s direct relatives ("kinsmen") but also his close allies ("friends"), completely wiping out his support base and ensuring no rival claimant could arise. This brutality unwittingly fulfills God's prophetic decree to the letter.

Bible references

Prov 23:29-32: "...Who has woe? Who has sorrow?... Those who tarry long over wine... In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder." (Elah's drunkenness leads to his death).
Dan 5:1-4, 30: "...Belshazzar the king... drank wine... That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed." (Another king killed amidst revelry and arrogance).
1 Kings 16:3: "...behold, I will consume Baasha and his house..." (The direct fulfillment of the prophecy spoken just verses earlier).

Cross references

Esth 1:10-12 (king's poor judgment while drinking); Isa 22:12-14 (callous feasting in the face of judgment); Prov 31:4-5 (kings should not drink).

1 Kings 16:15-20

In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned for seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines, and when the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and has killed the king,” therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. ... And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire and died...

In-depth-analysis

A Seven-Day Reign: Zimri’s reign is the shortest in Israel’s history. It highlights the utter chaos and the fact that his coup had no popular or military backing. He seized the throne but never secured the kingdom.
The Army’s Kingmaker Role: The army, away fighting the Philistines, immediately rejects the palace coup and elevates their own commander, Omri. This shows that real power lay with the military, not the palace intrigue in the capital, Tirzah.
Suicide as a Final Act: Trapped and defeated, Zimri commits suicide by burning the palace down upon himself. This act of self-immolation is a dramatic and ignominious end.
Reason for Judgment: Even in his seven days, the reason for Zimri's downfall is cited as "his sin... in walking in the way of Jeroboam." He had no time to implement policy, but his intent and actions were enough to condemn him.

Bible references

Judg 9:52-54: "...a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head... Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer... 'lest they say of me, "A woman killed him."'" (Another ignoble death of a usurper).
2 Kings 15:8-31: (A chapter detailing a similar series of rapid-fire assassinations and short reigns: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah).

Cross references

1 Sam 31:4 (Saul's suicide); Prov 16:18 (pride before a fall); Isa 28:15, 18 (a "covenant with death" being annulled).

1 Kings 16:21-28

Then the people of Israel were 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 who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni... So Tibni died, and Omri reigned. ... Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him. ... he walked in all the way of Jeroboam...

In-depth-analysis

Civil War: Zimri’s death doesn't end the chaos but triggers a four-year civil war between Omri (backed by the army) and a rival claimant, Tibni. This underscores the deep division and instability within Israel.
Omri’s Secular Success: Though given only a brief summary here, Omri was an extremely significant and powerful king from a secular perspective. Extra-biblical sources like the Mesha Stele and Assyrian records refer to Israel as the "House of Omri" (Bit-Humri) for over a century, a testament to his political impact.
The Divine Perspective: The Bible dismisses his political and military achievements. Its verdict is purely spiritual: "he did more evil than all who were before him." This is a stark polemic against valuing worldly success over faithfulness to God.
Founding of Samaria: Omri’s most lasting act was buying a hill and building a new capital, Samaria. This was a brilliant strategic move: it was more defensible than Tirzah and established a permanent capital for his new dynasty. Theologically, it further cemented the Northern Kingdom's identity as separate from Judah and Jerusalem.

Bible references

Micah 6:16: "For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab..." (Omri's evil statutes were remembered and condemned by later prophets).
Amos 6:1: "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria..." (Samaria became a symbol of complacent, sinful wealth).

Cross references

2 Sam 20:1-22 (Sheba's rebellion and civil strife after David's reign); Psa 49:11-13 (people who name lands after themselves, their folly).

Polemics

The Bible's dismissal of Omri is a direct polemic against the values of the surrounding nations. While Assyrian kings would boast of their military victories and building projects in their annals, the biblical author uses his inspired framework to declare Omri a failure in the only metric that matters: covenant faithfulness. His worldly success is meaningless before God. This passage teaches that God's evaluation of a leader is completely different from the world's.

1 Kings 16:29-33

In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel... And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam... he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

In-depth-analysis

A New Low: The description of Ahab marks the nadir of the chapter's downward spiral. He is not only worse than his father Omri but "more than all who were before him."
naqel (a light thing): The text states that walking in the foundational "sins of Jeroboam" was a trivial, insignificant matter to Ahab. This highlights his hardened conscience and readiness for even greater sin.
Jezebel and State-Sponsored Baalism: The critical turning point is his marriage to Jezebel. This was more than a political alliance with Phoenicia; it was a religious one. Jezebel, a zealous worshiper of Baal, actively imported her religion.
Open Apostasy: Ahab moves beyond the syncretism of Jeroboam (worshiping Yahweh in a forbidden way) to outright apostasy. He builds a temple for Baal in the capital city, Samaria, establishes a formal priesthood, and erects an Asherah pole (a cult object associated with the consort of Baal). This is official, state-sponsored idolatry.
Ba'al (Lord/Master): This was the chief deity of the Canaanites/Phoenicians, a storm and fertility god. Worshiping Baal was a direct challenge to Yahweh's claim as the one true God who provides rain and life.

Bible references

Deut 17:1-3: "...you shall not sacrifice to the LORD... a man or a woman who... has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven..." (Ahab's actions are a direct violation of foundational Torah laws).
1 Kings 18:21: "And Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.'" (The direct confrontation that Ahab's policies necessitated).
Rev 2:20: "But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols." (Jezebel becomes an archetype for corrupting, idolatrous influence in the church).

Cross references

Judg 2:11-13 (Israel forsook the Lord and served Baal); 2 Ki 21:3 (Manasseh's idolatry mirrors Ahab's); Rom 1:23 (exchanging the glory of God for images).

1 Kings 16:34

In his days Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his Segub his youngest son, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

In-depth-analysis

A Historical Footnote with a Theological Punchline: This verse seems detached from the kingly narrative but serves as the chapter's powerful conclusion.
Fulfillment of an Ancient Curse: It directly cites the fulfillment of a specific curse made by Joshua over 500 years earlier. Hiel of Bethel (significantly, a center of Jeroboam's idolatry) defies this curse and pays the exact price predicted: the death of his oldest and youngest sons.
The Inescapable Word of God: This event, placed at the end of a chapter full of broken covenants and prophetic judgments, serves as a final, stark warning. It proves that God's word, whether a promise or a curse, is immutable and will surely come to pass, regardless of how much time has passed or how powerful men think they are. It confirms that the prophetic words spoken against the kings in this chapter are just as certain.

Bible references

Josh 6:26: "Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, 'Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.'" (The original curse, fulfilled perfectly).
Matt 5:18: "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." (Jesus affirms the enduring authority and fulfillment of all Scripture).
Num 23:19: "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Balaam's statement on the reliability of God's word).

Cross references

Deut 28:15 (curses for disobedience); Zech 1:6 (God's words overtake the fathers); 2 Pet 1:19 (the prophetic word made more sure).

1 Kings 16 analysis

The Downward Spiral of Sin: The chapter intentionally uses a formula of "he did evil... more than all who were before him" for Omri and Ahab (v. 25, 30). This is a literary device showing a deliberate, accelerating descent into wickedness, from Jeroboam's syncretism to Ahab's outright Baalism.
Sovereignty in Judgment: A key theme, often seen in online theological studies, is how God uses the sinful actions of men (Baasha, Zimri) to carry out His divine judgment, yet still holds those men accountable for their sinful motives. God is sovereign over the coup, but the conspirator is guilty of murder.
Genealogy of Death: Biblical genealogies typically signify blessing and continuity (e.g., Genesis 5, Matthew 1). This chapter presents a kind of "anti-genealogy." The recurring phrase "he struck down all the house of..." represents a genealogy of destruction, the tragic outcome of covenant unfaithfulness.
Human vs. Divine Historical Record: The contrast between the secular historical importance of Omri (founder of a major dynasty and capital) and his brief, dismissive biblical record is a powerful statement on values. Biblical history is "theology taught by example," prioritizing spiritual fidelity above all else.

1 Kings 16 summary

This chapter grimly recounts the reigns of Israel's kings from Baasha to Ahab, charting a swift and catastrophic decline in leadership. It is a story of political instability marked by assassinations, a civil war, and a seven-day reign. Each king is judged for perpetuating the "sins of Jeroboam" and is condemned as being more evil than his predecessor. The chapter climaxes with King Ahab, who, influenced by his wife Jezebel, institutionalizes Baal worship in the new capital of Samaria. A final note on the cursed rebuilding of Jericho serves as a solemn seal, affirming that God’s prophetic word of judgment is inescapable and certain.

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1 Kings chapter 16 kjv

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
² 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;
³ 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.
⁴ 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.
⁵ 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?
⁶ So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
⁷ 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.
⁸ 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.
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ 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.
¹¹ 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 kinsfolk, nor of his friends.
¹² 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.
¹³ 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.
¹⁴ 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?
¹⁵ 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.
¹⁶ 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.
¹⁷ And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
¹⁸ 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.
¹⁹ 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.
²⁰ 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?
²¹ 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.
²² But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
²³ 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.
²⁴ 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.
²⁵ But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
²⁶ 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.
²⁷ Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
²⁸ So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
²⁹ 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.
³⁰ And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
³¹ 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.
³² And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
³³ 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.
³⁴ In his days did Hiel the Bethelite 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.

1 Kings chapter 16 nkjv

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani, against Baasha, saying:
² "Inasmuch as I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made My people Israel sin, to provoke Me to anger with their sins,
³ surely I will take away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
⁴ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the fields."
⁵ Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
⁶ So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place.
⁷ And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of 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 them.
⁸ In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel, and reigned two years in Tirzah.
⁹ Now his servant Zimri, commander 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.
¹⁰ And Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
¹¹ Then it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he was seated on his throne, that he killed all the household of Baasha; he did not leave him one male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends.
¹² Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
¹³ for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, by which they had sinned and by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.
¹⁴ 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?
¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri had reigned in Tirzah seven days. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
¹⁶ Now the people who were encamped heard it said, "Zimri has conspired and also has killed the king." So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.
¹⁷ Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon, and they besieged Tirzah.
¹⁸ And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house down upon himself with fire, and died,
¹⁹ because of the sins which he had committed in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he had committed to make Israel sin.
²⁰ Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the treason he committed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
²¹ Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.
²² But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned.
²³ In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years. Six years he reigned in Tirzah.
²⁴ And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.
²⁵ Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all who were before him.
²⁶ For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.
²⁷ Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
²⁸ So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. Then Ahab his son reigned in his place.
²⁹ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.
³⁰ Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
³¹ And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.
³² Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
³³ And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
³⁴ In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun.

1 Kings chapter 16 niv

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha:
² "I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins.
³ So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
⁴ Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country."
⁵ As for the other events of Baasha's reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
⁶ Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.
⁷ Moreover, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam?and also because he destroyed it.
⁸ In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.
⁹ Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk in the home of Arza, the palace administrator at Tirzah.
¹⁰ Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king.
¹¹ As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha's whole family. He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend.
¹² So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu?
¹³ because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.
¹⁴ As for the other events of Elah's reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days. The army was encamped near Gibbethon, a Philistine town.
¹⁶ When the Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day there in the camp.
¹⁷ Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah.
¹⁸ When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died,
¹⁹ because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD and following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
²⁰ As for the other events of Zimri's reign, and the rebellion he carried out, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
²¹ Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri.
²² But Omri's followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.
²³ In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.
²⁴ He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill.
²⁵ But Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD and sinned more than all those before him.
²⁶ He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.
²⁷ As for the other events of Omri's reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
²⁸ Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.
²⁹ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years.
³⁰ Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him.
³¹ He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.
³² He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria.
³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.
³⁴ In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun.

1 Kings chapter 16 esv

¹ And the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
² "Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins,
³ behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
⁴ Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat."
⁵ 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?
⁶ And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place.
⁷ Moreover, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.
⁸ In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years.
⁹ But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah,
¹⁰ Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
¹¹ When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends.
¹² Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
¹³ for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.
¹⁴ 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?
¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines,
¹⁶ and the troops who were encamped heard it said, "Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king." Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.
¹⁷ So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
¹⁸ And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire and died,
¹⁹ because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin.
²⁰ Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
²¹ Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.
²² But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.
²³ In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah.
²⁴ He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
²⁵ Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him.
²⁶ For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins that he made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols.
²⁷ Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
²⁸ And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
²⁹ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.
³⁰ And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
³¹ And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.
³² He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria.
³³ And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
³⁴ In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

1 Kings chapter 16 nlt

¹ This message from the LORD was delivered to King Baasha by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani:
² "I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin.
³ So now I will destroy you and your family, just as I destroyed the descendants of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
⁴ The members of Baasha's family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures."
⁵ The rest of the events in Baasha's reign and the extent of his power are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
⁶ When Baasha died, he was buried in Tirzah. Then his son Elah became the next king.
⁷ The message from the LORD against Baasha and his family came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. It was delivered because Baasha had done what was evil in the LORD's sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done), and also because Baasha had destroyed the family of Jeroboam. The LORD's anger was provoked by Baasha's sins.
⁸ Elah son of Baasha began to rule over Israel in the twenty-sixth year of King Asa's reign in Judah. He reigned in the city of Tirzah for two years.
⁹ Then Zimri, who commanded half of the royal chariots, made plans to kill him. One day in Tirzah, Elah was getting drunk at the home of Arza, the supervisor of the palace.
¹⁰ Zimri walked in and struck him down and killed him. This happened in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa's reign in Judah. Then Zimri became the next king.
¹¹ Zimri immediately killed the entire royal family of Baasha, leaving him not even a single male child. He even destroyed distant relatives and friends.
¹² So Zimri destroyed the dynasty of Baasha as the LORD had promised through the prophet Jehu.
¹³ This happened because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed, and because of the sins they led Israel to commit. They provoked the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.
¹⁴ The rest of the events in Elah's reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
¹⁵ Zimri began to rule over Israel in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa's reign in Judah, but his reign in Tirzah lasted only seven days. The army of Israel was then attacking the Philistine town of Gibbethon.
¹⁶ When they heard that Zimri had committed treason and had assassinated the king, that very day they chose Omri, commander of the army, as the new king of Israel.
¹⁷ So Omri led the entire army of Israel up from Gibbethon to attack Tirzah, Israel's capital.
¹⁸ When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the palace and burned it down over himself and died in the flames.
¹⁹ For he, too, had done what was evil in the LORD's sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit.
²⁰ The rest of the events in Zimri's reign and his conspiracy are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
²¹ But now the people of Israel were split into two factions. Half the people tried to make Tibni son of Ginath their king, while the other half supported Omri.
²² But Omri's supporters defeated the supporters of Tibni. So Tibni was killed, and Omri became the next king.
²³ Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-first year of King Asa's reign in Judah. He reigned twelve years in all, six of them in Tirzah.
²⁴ Then Omri bought the hill now known as Samaria from its owner, Shemer, for 150 pounds of silver. He built a city on it and called the city Samaria in honor of Shemer.
²⁵ But Omri did what was evil in the LORD's sight, even more than any of the kings before him.
²⁶ He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. The people provoked the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols.
²⁷ The rest of the events in Omri's reign, the extent of his power, and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
²⁸ When Omri died, he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Ahab became the next king.
²⁹ Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.
³⁰ But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD's sight, even more than any of the kings before him.
³¹ And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.
³² First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria.
³³ Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
³⁴ It was during his reign that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son, Abiram. And when he completed it and set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son, Segub. This all happened according to the message from the LORD concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua son of Nun.