1 Kings 16 5

1 Kings 16:5 kjv

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?

1 Kings 16:5 nkjv

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?

1 Kings 16:5 niv

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?

1 Kings 16:5 esv

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?

1 Kings 16:5 nlt

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.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 5 Meaning

This verse serves as a concluding statement for the account of King Baasha's reign in the book of 1 Kings. It signals to the reader that the presented narrative is a concise summary and that more detailed information regarding Baasha's actions, achievements, and military strength can be found in the official, non-extant state annals known as "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel." This common formula asserts the historical veracity of the condensed biblical account while pointing to broader, presumably public, historical records for further verification or interest.

1 Kings 16 5 Context

1 Kings 16 details the reigns of several kings of Israel following Jeroboam, all characterized by idolatry and a continuation of the sins of Jeroboam. Baasha, who ruled for 24 years, usurped the throne by striking down Nadab, Jeroboam's son, and wiped out Jeroboam's entire household, fulfilling Ahijah's prophecy (1 Ki 14:10-11). Despite being God's instrument for judgment against Jeroboam's house, Baasha himself did evil in the sight of the Lord, continuing the idolatrous practices that led Israel astray. This verse, 1 Kings 16:5, marks the conclusion of the summary of Baasha's reign before moving on to the divine judgment pronounced against his house through the prophet Jehu, similar to the judgment on Jeroboam, leading into the accounts of his successors Elah and Zimri. The historical context includes constant warfare between Israel (under Baasha) and Judah (under Asa), highlighting the division and spiritual decline of the northern kingdom.

1 Kings 16 5 Word analysis

• Now the rest of the acts of Baasha:

  • Now: Hebrew: וְיֶתֶר (wə·ye·ṯer). A transitional conjunction "and" (or "now") combined with "remainder," marking a shift in narrative focus from the specific highlighted events of the king's reign to a broader summary of his other deeds.
  • the rest of the acts: Hebrew: יֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי (yeter divrey). "Yeter" means "remainder, residue, surplus." "Divrey" (plural of davar) means "words," "affairs," or "acts." This phrase indicates that the biblical author has presented a selection of key events, but much more transpired during the king's rule. It implies selectivity in the biblical narrative, focusing on aspects crucial to God's dealings with His people.
  • of Baasha: Refers to Baasha, the third king of Israel (after Jeroboam and Nadab), from the tribe of Issachar. His reign (c. 909–886 BC) marked a new dynasty, but he continued the idolatrous ways of his predecessors, making him a recipient of divine judgment (1 Ki 16:7).

• and what he did: Hebrew: וַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה (wa·’ă·šer ‘ā·śāh). "Wa" is "and," "asher" is "that which," "asah" is "did, made." This phrase further emphasizes the totality of his actions, not just "acts" in the sense of governmental decrees, but every aspect of his performance as king. It adds comprehensiveness to the reference to the external source.

• and his might: Hebrew: וּגְבוּרָתוֹ (ū·ḡə·ḇū·rā·ṯōw). "And his strength" or "and his mighty deeds/valor." This specific term refers to his prowess, possibly military might, or the power he wielded as a king. It acknowledges that beyond administrative "acts," his reign involved significant displays of power. It indicates that the external record contained military exploits and displays of kingly strength.

• are they not written: Hebrew: הֲלֹא־הֵמָּה כְתוּבִים (hā·lō-hêm·māh kə·ṯū·ḇîm). This is a rhetorical question, typical of Hebrew narrative, meaning "Indeed they are written," or "Surely they are written." It serves to affirm the existence and accessibility of the stated records. It assures the audience that the information is verifiable and based on established historical accounts, bolstering the authority of the biblical writer.

• in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel: Hebrew: בְּסֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (bə·se·p̄er diḇ·rê hay·yā·mîm lə·mal·ḵê yiś·rā·’êl).

  • Book of the Chronicles: Sefer divrey hayyamim. Literally "Book of the Words of the Days." This refers to official royal annals or state records kept by the kingdom of Israel, not the canonical biblical books of Chronicles (which were written much later and offer a different perspective). These sources were external to the biblical narrative itself, consulted by the inspired writer of Kings.
  • of the Kings of Israel: Distinguishes this specific archive from the "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah." This underscores the separate, but parallel, monarchies in the divided kingdom and the existence of distinct records for each. This shows the rigorous historical record-keeping traditions of the ancient Near East, which God's people also maintained.

1 Kings 16 5 Bonus section

• The repetitive use of this concluding formula for nearly every king in Kings reinforces a consistent historical framework, providing a sense of chronological continuity and established, credible sourcing for the narrative.
• The referenced "Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel" is a non-extant ancient Near Eastern state annal, similar to other referenced but now lost sources like the "Book of Jashar" or the "Book of the Acts of Solomon." These mentions validate the ancient historical setting of the Bible.
• While secular history might prioritize a king's "might" (g'vurato) and political achievements, the biblical record in Kings often downplays these, emphasizing instead the king's spiritual fidelity or apostasy, which truly mattered in God's covenantal relationship with Israel. This verse implicitly shows the author's selective methodology.

1 Kings 16 5 Commentary

1 Kings 16:5 is a foundational formula recurring throughout the Books of Kings, acting as a historical authenticator and a literary transition. Its primary function is to confirm the historicity of the biblical account by appealing to a wider, public body of records accessible to the original audience. By stating "are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?" the author acknowledges the condensed nature of the biblical narrative and provides an assurance that further, comprehensive details of Baasha's reign exist in authoritative historical documents. This suggests that the biblical account is not merely anecdotal but grounded in verifiable history. Moreover, it subtly implies that while the political annals contain comprehensive details ("what he did, and his might"), the biblical narrative selects and focuses on aspects crucial to divine purposes – particularly the king's obedience or disobedience to the covenant. This verse thus testifies to the factual basis of the sacred narrative while highlighting its theological focus.