CHAPTER XVI _Jehu the prophet denounces the destruction of Baasha_,1-7. _Zimri conspires against him, and slays him and his family, and_ _reigns seven days_, 8-15. _The people make Omri king, and besiege Zimri in Tirzah; who,_ _finding no way to escape, sets fire to his palace, and consumes_ _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:2. _MADE THEE PRINCE OVER MY PEOPLE_] That is, in the course of my providence, I _suffered_ thee to become king; for it is impossible that God should make a rebel, a traitor, and a murderer, king over _his_ people, or over any people. God is ever represented in Scripture as _doing_... [ Continue Reading ]
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 i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:9. _CAPTAIN OF HALF_ HIS _CHARIOTS_] It is probable that Zimri, and some other who is not here named, were commanders of the cavalry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:11. _HE SLEW ALL THE HOUSE OF BAASHA_] He endeavoured to exterminate his race, and blot out his memory; and the Jews say, when such a matter is determined, they not only destroy the house of the person himself, _but the five neighbouring houses_, that the memory of such a person may... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:13. _FOR ALL THE SINS OF BAASHA_] We see why it was that God permitted such judgments to fall on this family. Baasha was a grievous offender, and so also was his son Elah; and they caused the people to sin; and they provoked God to anger by their idolatries.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:15. _THE PEOPLE WERE ENCAMPED AGAINST GIBBETHON_] It appears that, at this time, the Israelites had war with the Philistines, and were now besieging Gibbethon, one of their cities. This army, hearing that Zimri had rebelled and killed Elah, made Omri, their general, king, who immedi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:21. _DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS_] Why this division took place we cannot tell; the people appear to have been for Tibni, the _army_ for Omri; and the latter prevailed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _IN THE THIRTY AND FIRST YEAR OF ASA_] There must be a mistake here in the number _thirty-one_; for, in ver. 10 and 15, 1 Kings 16:10; 1 Kings 16:15 it is said that Zimri slew his master, and began to reign in the _twenty-seventh year of Asa_; and as Zimri reigned only _seven days_, and O... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _HE BOUGHT THE HILL SAMARIA OF SHEMER_] This should be read, "He bought the hill of Shomeron from Shomer, and called it Shomeron, (i.e., Little Shomer,) after the name of Shomer, owner of the hill." At first the kings of Israel dwelt at Shechem, and then at Tirzah; but this place having s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _DID WORSE THAN ALL - BEFORE HIM_] Omri was, 1. An idolater in principle; 2. An idolater in practice; 3. He led the people to idolatry by _precept_ and _example_; and, which was that in which he _did worse_ than all before him, 4. He made _statutes_ in favour of idolatry, and obliged t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:31. _HE TOOK TO WIFE JEZEBEL_] This was the head and chief of his offending; he took to wife, not only a _heathen_, but one whose hostility to the true religion was well known, and carried to the utmost extent. 1. She was the idolatrous daughter of an idolatrous king; 2. She pract... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:33. _AHAB MADE A GROVE_] אשרה _Asherah, Astarte_, or _Venus;_ what the _Syriac_ calls an _idol_, and the _Arabic_, a _tall tree_; probably meaning, by the last, an image of _Priapus_, the obscene keeper of groves, orchards, and gardens.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Kings 16:34. _DID HIEL THE BETH-ELITE BUILD JERICHO_] I wish the reader to refer to my note on Joshua 6:26, for a general view of this subject. I shall add a few observations. Joshua's curse is well known: "Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho; he s... [ Continue Reading ]