1 Kings 16 6

1 Kings 16:6 kjv

So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 16:6 nkjv

So Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. Then Elah his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 16:6 niv

Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.

1 Kings 16:6 esv

And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 16:6 nlt

When Baasha died, he was buried in Tirzah. Then his son Elah became the next king.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 6 Meaning

This verse formally concludes the reign of Elah, king of Israel, stating his death and burial in Tirzah. Although the phrasing "slept with his fathers" often implies a peaceful death and ancestral resting place, the broader narrative of 1 Kings chapter 16 reveals that Elah's end was violent, as he was assassinated by Zimri. Thus, the verse serves as a standard historical record of a monarch's demise, even when the reality behind it was tumultuous and fraught with judgment.

1 Kings 16 6 Context

1 Kings 16:6 is situated within a section of 1 Kings detailing the rapid succession of short-lived and wicked kings in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, following the reign of Jeroboam. The chapter specifically outlines the tumultuous reigns of Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and the beginning of Ahab. Elah, the son of Baasha, is characterized as a king who "walked in the way of his father and in the sin of Jeroboam" (1 Ki 16:2). His reign lasted only two years. The seemingly peaceful phrase "slept with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah" provides the official chronicled end, but immediately following this verse, the historical narrative reveals his violent assassination by his servant Zimri during a feast (1 Ki 16:9-10). This pattern of wicked rule, internal strife, and divinely sanctioned judgment became characteristic of the Northern Kingdom, often contrasting with the relatively more stable (though still flawed) Davidic dynasty in Judah. Tirzah served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom from Jeroboam's time until Omri relocated it to Samaria (1 Ki 16:23-24).

1 Kings 16 6 Word analysis

• Now: A common narrative connector, signaling a transition to the next development in the story, in this case, the end of Elah's reign.
• Elah: (Hebrew: אֵלָה, 'Elah). Son and successor of King Baasha of Israel. His reign was brief and marked by the continuation of the spiritual and moral failings of his predecessors.
• slept: (Hebrew: שָׁכַב, shakhav). A polite and common biblical euphemism for death, meaning to lie down, to rest. It implies a joining with previous generations. While it can suggest a peaceful end, its use here, preceding a revelation of assassination, subtly emphasizes the chronicler's formal record-keeping while contrasting with the stark reality of the historical events.
• with his fathers: (Hebrew: אֲבֹתָיו, avotav). Referring to his ancestors or forefathers who have already died. This phrase signifies his death, burial among his ancestral line, and the end of his dynastic continuity in power, a common regal obituary. It also connects him to the preceding generations of kings and lineage.
• and was buried: (Hebrew: וַיִּקָּבֵר, vayyiqqaver). Signifies the physical act of interment in a grave or tomb. It implies the finality of death and the proper customary treatment of a king's body, even if his death was dishonorable.
• in Tirzah: (Hebrew: תִּרְצָה, Tirzah). A city in the territory of Manasseh, known for its beauty (Song 6:4). It served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel from the reign of Jeroboam I until King Omri moved the capital to Samaria. Its identification as the burial site anchors Elah's reign within the geographical and political center of the Northern Kingdom at that specific historical juncture.
• slept with his fathers and was buried: This formulaic expression serves as a concluding statement for the reign of many kings in both Israel and Judah. It formally closes a monarch's story in the historical record. In the context of the northern kingdom, where violence and instability were rampant, this formal phrase often stands in ironic tension with the ignominious realities of how kings actually met their end, as is precisely the case with Elah in the very next verses. The consistent use of this phrase highlights the continuous record of dynastic change and the passing of power, often due to divine judgment or human wickedness.

1 Kings 16 6 Bonus section

The formulaic reporting of a king's death, even if violent, showcases the chronicler's adherence to a specific literary convention for regal histories. This structure provides a sense of order amidst the political chaos and reflects the belief in divine orchestration even over the most ignominious deaths. The contrast between the expected peaceful idiom "slept with his fathers" and the actual violent death underscores a theological point: God's ultimate control over kingship, raising and casting down rulers according to His will and the king's obedience (or disobedience) to His covenant. Elah's short and wicked reign exemplifies the fragility of human power when separated from faithful adherence to the Lord, ultimately reflecting God's judgment moving history forward.

1 Kings 16 6 Commentary

1 Kings 16:6 functions as the standardized obituary for King Elah, a formula seen repeatedly in the biblical accounts of kings. It formally marks the conclusion of his reign and his life, confirming his removal from the scene of power. The phrase "slept with his fathers" conventionally points to a king's passing and his ancestral resting place, indicating dynastic continuity. However, the subsequent verses immediately reveal the violent truth of Elah's demise—assassination by his own officer, Zimri (1 Ki 16:9-10). This stark contrast between the formulaic serenity of the verse and the brutality of the historical event subtly highlights the profound instability, constant violence, and frequent divine judgment plaguing the Northern Kingdom. Elah, like his father Baasha and earlier Jeroboam, walked in idolatry and disobedience to God, ensuring his short reign would end tragically. His burial in Tirzah confirms it as the reigning capital before Omri moved the seat of power to Samaria. The brevity and formality of the account emphasize that Elah's rule, tainted by wickedness, was ultimately insignificant in the greater divine narrative, swiftly bringing about his downfall as part of God's unfolding judgment on a persistently rebellious kingdom.