1 Kings 16:7

_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._ Also by the hand of the prophet Jehu. This is not another prophecy, but merely an addition by the sacred historian, explanatory of the death of Bussha and the extinction of his family. The doom pronounced against Jeroboam, 1 Kings 14:9, did not entitle him to take the execution of the sentence into his own hands; but from his following the same calf-worship he had evidently plotted the conspiracy and murder of that king, in furtherance of his own ambitious designs, and hence, in his own assassination, he met the just reward of his deeds. The similitude to Jeroboam extends to

1-14 This chapter relates wholly to the kingdom of Israel, and the revolutions of that kingdom. God calls Israel his people still, though wretchedly corrupted. Jehu foretells the same destruction to come upon Baasha's family, which that king had been employed to bring upon the family of Jeroboam. Those who resemble others in their sins, may expect to resemble them in the plagues they suffer, especially those who seem zealous against such sins in others as they allow in themselves. Baasha himself dies in peace, and is buried with honour. Herein plainly appears that there are punishments after death, which are most to be dreaded. Let Elah be a warning to drunkards, who know not but death may surprise them. Death easily comes upon men when they are drunk. Besides the diseases which men bring themselves into by drinking, when in that state, men are easily overcome by an enemy, and liable to...

Verse 1 Kings 16:7. _AND BECAUSE HE KILLED HIM._] This the Vulgate understands of _Jehu the prophet_, put to death by Baasha: _Ob hanc_ _causam occidit eum, hoe est. Jehu filium Hanani prophetam_; "On this account he killed him, that is, Jehu the prophet, the son of Hanani." Some think _Baasha_ is intended, others _Jeroboam_, and others _Nadab_ the son of Jeroboam. This last is the sentiment of _Rab. Sol. Jarchi_, and of some good critics. The order is here confused; and the _seventh_ verse should probably be placed between the 4th and 5th....

The natural position of this verse would be after 1 Kings 16:4 and before 1 Kings 16:5. But it may be regarded as added by the writer, somewhat irregularly, as an afterthought; its special force being to point out that the sentence on Baasha was intended to punish, not only his calf-worship, but emphatically his murder of Jeroboam and his family. Though the destruction of Jeroboam had been foretold, and though Baasha may be rightly regarded as God’s instrument to punish Jeroboam’s sins, yet, as he received no command to execute God’s wrath on the offender, and was instigated solely by ambition and self-interest, his guilt was just as great as if no prophecy had been uttered. Even Jehu’s commission 2 Kings 9

EXPOSITION This division of chapters, immediately after the commencement of the narrative of the reign of Baasha, is somewhat unfortunate, inasmuch as it obscures the close connexion between the sin of Baasha and the prophecy which it provoked. The idea the historian would convey is clearly this—the analogy between the dynasty of Jeroboam and that which supplanted it, (1) in their sin, (2) in the denunciation of each by a prophet, and (3) in the punishments which followed their sins an analogy so close that the prophet Jehu almost employs the _ipsissima verba _of his predecessor, Ahijah. 1 KINGS 16:1 THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JEHU, THE SON OF HANANI [Hanani is mentioned in...

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,.... Which is here repeated, as Abarbinel thinks, because in the former prophecy the threatening was on account not of his own sin, but because he made Israel to sin; but here it is because of his own evil works, as it follows: 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: worshipping the golden calves as they did: AND BECAUSE HE KILLED HIM; either Jeroboam; for, according to Dr. Lightfoot b, he was alive this year; rather Nadab the son of Jeroboam, who it is certain was slain by Baasha; though it may refer, as Abarbinel thinks, to the whole house of Jeroboam; though it was agreeable to the will of God, yet was not done by Baasha with any regard to it, but to...

4. KINGS OF ISRAEL Chapter S 15:25-16 _ 1. Nadab, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:25)_ 2. Baasha, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:34; 1 Kings 16:1) 3. Elah, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:8) 4. Zimri, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:15) 5. Divisions (1 Kings 16:21) 6. Omri, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:23) 7. Ahab ...

1 KINGS 15:33 TO 1 KINGS 16:34. BAASHA'S DYNASTY. RISE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI. Nothing is told us of Baasha except the usual annalistic details, and, that a prophet named Jehu foretold the destruction of his whole house. His son Elah was at war with the Philistines (1 Kings 16:15), but remained at Tirzah (p. 30), which at this time was the chief residence of the kings of Israel. Zimri slew him and reigned but seven days, and was then attacked by the army under Omri, and burned himself in his house. For four years, (_cf._ 1 Kings 16:15 with 1 Kin

_And also_[R.V. MOREOVER] _by the hand of the prophet Jehu_ -Moreover" connects the two prophetic messages more directly than the -also" of A. V. The LXX. omits the words -the prophet." _even for_(R.V. BOTH BECAUSE OF] _all the evil_ There are two reasons given for the divine message sent to Baasha. They are both prefaced by the same preposition in the original = _because_, and it makes the verse clearer if the same word be used in both clauses in the translation. _and because he killed_[R.V. SMOTE] _him_ The R.V. gives on the margin -it" for -him." The reference must be to Jeroboam and his house. God had raised up Baasha, and sent him against Jeroboam, but it is clear from this verse that the manner in which punishment had been inflicted by Baasha was not such as God approved of. We may compare with this the language of Isaiah (Isaiah 47

B. THE BAASHA DYNASTY 15:32-16:14 The Baasha dynasty receives the most cursory treatment from the author of Kings. Political accomplishments of Baasha are almost totally ignored, as the author has elected to focus on the prophetic curse which ultimately brought destruction to this dynasty. The material may be conveniently discussed under the headings (1) the reign of Baasha and the prophecy of Jehu (1 Kings 15:32 to 1 Kings 16:7); and (2) the reign of Elah and his assassination by Zimri (1 Kings 16:8-14). _1. THE REIGN OF BAASHA AND THE PROPHECY OF JEHU_ (1 Kings 15:32 to...