1 Kings 16:20 kjv
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?
1 Kings 16:20 nkjv
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?
1 Kings 16:20 niv
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?
1 Kings 16:20 esv
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?
1 Kings 16:20 nlt
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.
1 Kings 16 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Regnal Formulas (Pointing to Chronicles of Israel) | ||
| 1 Kgs 14:19 | "The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned...?" | Typical conclusion for Israelite kings. |
| 1 Kgs 15:7 | "Now the rest of the acts of Abijam...?" | Similar formula for Judean kings. |
| 1 Kgs 15:23 | "The rest of all the acts of Asa...?" | Another example for Judah's kings. |
| 1 Kgs 16:5 | "Now the rest of the acts of Baasha...?" | Direct preceding parallel for an Israelite king. |
| 1 Kgs 16:14 | "Now the rest of the acts of Elah...?" | Directly preceding parallel for an Israelite king. |
| 1 Kgs 16:27 | "Now the rest of the acts of Omri...?" | Following parallel for an Israelite king. |
| 2 Kgs 10:34 | "Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did...?" | Consistent use across Kings. |
| 2 Kgs 14:18 | "Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah...?" | Shows consistency for Judean kings too. |
| 2 Kgs 20:20 | "Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah...?" | Another prominent Judean king's conclusion. |
| Treason and Betrayal | ||
| 2 Sam 15:31 | "O LORD, I pray You, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness." | Absalom's conspiracy involved treason. |
| Psa 55:20 | "He stretches out his hand against his friends; he violates his covenant." | Description of treacherous behavior. |
| Prov 11:6 | "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of traitors destroys them." | The outcome for traitors. |
| Isa 24:16 | "From the ends of the earth we hear songs, 'Glory to the Righteous One!' But I say, 'I pine away, I pine away, woe to me! The traitors have dealt treacherously; yes, the traitors have dealt very treacherously.'" | Widespread spiritual and moral corruption and treachery. |
| Jer 3:20 | "Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel," | Israel's spiritual treason against God. |
| Mal 2:10 | "Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?" | Treachery against fellow Israelites and God's covenant. |
| Matt 26:15 | "and he said, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?'" | Judas's betrayal of Jesus for gain. |
| John 13:21 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." | Jesus foretelling His betrayal. |
| 2 Tim 3:4 | "treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." | Describing sinful men in the last days. |
| Divine Judgment and Short/Violent Reigns | ||
| 1 Kgs 16:3-4 | "Therefore I will utterly sweep away Baasha... and make your house like the house of Jeroboam." | Jehu's prophecy fulfilled by Zimri. |
| 1 Kgs 16:18-19 | "And when Zimri saw that the city was taken... and so he died... because of his sins..." | Zimri's immediate end and its cause. |
| Hos 8:4 | "They make kings, but not by me. They set up princes, but I know nothing of it." | Condemnation of unauthorized kingship in Israel. |
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings." | God's ultimate sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
1 Kings 16 verses
1 Kings 16 20 Meaning
1 Kings 16:20 concisely concludes the biblical account of Zimri's seven-day reign as king of Israel. It states that his other actions and specifically his act of treason, by which he seized power, are recorded in the official royal annals known as "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." This customary concluding formula signifies the completion of the narrative regarding Zimri within the biblical text, affirming that historical documentation exists for further details while highlighting the brevity and nature of his rule, centered on a treacherous coup.
1 Kings 16 20 Context
1 Kings 16:20 falls within a turbulent period of Israel's history in the northern kingdom. It serves as the concluding summary of Zimri's remarkably brief seven-day reign, one of the shortest recorded in the Bible. Zimri, a commander of half Elah's chariots, assassinated King Elah, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Jehu against Baasha's house (1 Kgs 16:3-4), as Elah was Baasha's son. Zimri then sought to purge the entire royal family, characteristic of the violent and unstable transitions of power that plagued the northern kingdom. However, his rule was swiftly ended when Omri, the commander of the army, returned from battle to besiege Tirzah, Zimri's capital. Trapped and realizing his defeat, Zimri committed suicide by burning down the palace over himself. This verse marks the typical end to a king's account, pointing to the official state records for supplementary details, emphasizing that even this fleeting, violent reign was recorded. The historical context showcases the continuous cycle of sin, assassination, and instability that characterized Israel due to its departure from Yahweh worship and adoption of idolatry.
1 Kings 16 20 Word analysis
And: (וְ, wə-) A simple conjunctive, connecting this summary statement to the preceding narrative of Zimri's demise.
the rest of the acts: (דִּבְרֵי֙ הַיּוֹתֶ֗ר, diḇrê ha-yôṯer) Literally "the words/matters of the rest." This phrase signifies that while the biblical narrative focuses on the religiously significant and theologically relevant aspects of a king's reign, there are other historical events that occurred, often recorded elsewhere. It speaks to the selective, purposeful nature of biblical history.
of Zimri: Identifies the subject king, a key figure in the period of rapid and violent successions in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His rule epitomized instability.
and his treason: (וּבִגְדּ֛וֹ, ū-ḇiḡdô) Derived from the root בגד (BGD), meaning "to deal treacherously," "to betray," or "to be unfaithful." This word is critically important. It doesn't merely refer to a rebellion or coup; it implies a violation of trust and loyalty, particularly significant for someone who was a servant (a commander) of the king he overthrew. This term paints his ascendancy in a negative moral light, reflecting a breakdown of social order and legitimate authority. It highlights his core defining action in the brief history.
that he wrought: (אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה, ’ăšer ‘āśāh) "That which he did" or "which he performed." It signifies his complete action, referring specifically to his treachery and all its implications in bringing him to power and destroying Elah's household.
are they not written?: (הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים, hălō-hêm kəṯûḇîm) A rhetorical question, very common in Kings, indicating an emphatic affirmative answer. It serves as a literary device that points to verifiable historical records outside the immediate biblical narrative, assuring the reader of the account's grounding in actual events.
in the book of the chronicles: (עַל־סֵ֔פֶר דִּבְרֵ֖י הַיָּמִ֑ים, ‘al-sēp̄er diḇrê ha-yāmîm) Literally, "upon the book of the words of the days." This refers to official state annals or royal records, suggesting meticulous historical record-keeping in ancient Israel and Judah. The authors of Kings seem to have drawn from these official sources, but presented the material selectively for their theological purposes.
of the kings of Israel?: (לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל, ləmalkê Yiśrā’ēl) Specifically identifies the archives as those belonging to the Northern Kingdom, distinguishing them from "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah." This distinction underlines the separate historical trajectories of the two kingdoms.
Words-group analysis:
- "the rest of the acts... and his treason": This phrasing juxtaposes a general reference to his other deeds with a specific focus on "his treason." The treason is singled out as the most defining and ethically significant aspect of his brief time in power, framing his entire reign (even at 7 days) as originating from a treacherous act. This moral evaluation is crucial to the Deuteronomistic history.
- "are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?": This common formula not only lends historical weight to the biblical narrative but also suggests a historical depth beyond what is directly presented. It directs the reader to broader, potentially more detailed historical archives, establishing the veracity of the account without burdening the text with exhaustive historical records not pertinent to its primary theological and prophetic purposes. It implicitly states that divine purpose underlies recorded history.
1 Kings 16 20 Bonus section
- The brevity of Zimri's reign, captured within this concluding formula, stands as a stark biblical example of how quickly illicit power can be gained and lost. His name became proverbial for a short, tumultuous reign (cf. 2 Kgs 9:31, where Jehu ironically asks, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?").
- The "book of the chronicles" in Kings differs from the biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. The books of Kings frequently reference these earlier, more extensive state records for further details, indicating that the biblical account is a selective, theologically purposeful summary rather than a full history.
- The repetitive nature of this concluding formula for most kings in Kings contributes to the overall structure and message of the Deuteronomistic history, which consistently assesses kings' reigns based on their fidelity to God's covenant and law. Even short, failed reigns like Zimri's are brought under this evaluative framework.
1 Kings 16 20 Commentary
1 Kings 16:20 serves as a succinct closing statement for Zimri's seven-day kingship, emblematic of the northern kingdom's instability. By stating that "the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought" are recorded in the chronicles, the biblical author uses a standardized regnal formula common throughout 1 and 2 Kings. This formula not only authenticates the narrative by appealing to external historical sources but also filters the details provided to only what is spiritually and theologically relevant.
The singular focus on "his treason" is particularly significant. It condemns Zimri's method of ascension, which involved a blatant act of betrayal against King Elah, his master, even while inadvertently fulfilling God's judgment upon the house of Baasha (1 Kgs 16:3-4). This highlights that while God can use the wicked for His purposes, He still judges their personal sin and treacherous deeds. Zimri's immediate, violent end (self-immolation, 1 Kgs 16:18-19) reinforces the biblical principle that unjust gain and a reign built on sin will not endure, demonstrating the fleeting nature of human power attained through corrupt means. The narrative of Zimri underscores the spiritual and political chaos gripping Israel as they continually drifted from faithful obedience to Yahweh, cycling through rapid and bloody changes of leadership.