Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Tehu's Prophecy against Baasha. 1 KINGS XVI. Omri Builds Saviaj-^ia third year of his reign (see on cli. »5. 2), and Elah, who was a prince of dissolute habits, reigned not fully two y< ars.
well as increasing the means of national defence (2Clu on-
Icles 14. 1-7). In the fifteentli year of his reign, however, the king of Israel commenced liostilities against him, and, invading his kingdom, erected a strong fortres.s at Ramali, which was near Gibeah, and only six Roman miles from Jerusalem. Afraid lest liis subjects might quit his kingdom, and return to the worsliip of tlieir
9-22. ZiMKi's Conspiracy. 9. Zimrl . . . conspired against him—During a carousal in the house of his chamberlain, Zimri slew him, and having seized tlie sovereignty, endeavoured to consolidate his throne by the massacre of ail the royal race. 15. Zimri reigned seven days—The news of his conspiracy soon spread, and the fatliers, he wished to cut off all intercourse between tlie two nations. Ramali stood on an eminence overhanging a narrow ravine which separated Israel from Judali, and therefore he took up a hostile position in that place. 1830. Tlieu Asa took all tUe silver and tlie gold tliat were left in tlie . . . Koiise of the Lord—Asa's religious character is now seen to decline. He trusted not in tlie Lord (2 Chronicles IG. 7). In this emei'geucy Asa solicited the powerful aid of the king of Damascene-Syria; and to bribe him to break off liis alliance witli Baasha, he transmitted to him the treasure lying in the temple and palace. The Syrian mercenaries were gained. Instances are to be found both in tlie ancient and modern history of the East, of the violation of treaties equally sudden and unscrupulous, through the presentation of some tempting bribe. Ben-hadad poured an army into the northern provinces of Israel, and having captured some cities in Galilee, on the borders of Syria, compelled Baasha to withdraw from Ramah back within liis own territories. 18. Beii-liadad —(see on cll. 11, 24.) Tlien Asa made a proclamation —Tlie fortifications which Baasha had erected at Ramali were demolished, and with the materials were built otiier defences, where Asa thought tliey were needed—at Geba (now Jeba) and Jlizpeli (now Neby Samuil)—about two hours' travelling north of Jerusalem. 23. in the time of Uls old age lie was diseased in Uis feet—(see on 2 Chronarmy having proclaimed their general, Omri, king, that officer immediately raised the siege at Gibbethon, and marched directly against tihe capital in which the usurper had established liimself. Zimri soon saw that he was not in circumstances to hold out against the whole forces of tlie kingdom; so, shutting himself up in tlie palace, he set it on tire, and, like Sardanapalus, chose to perish himself, and reduce all to ruin, rather than that the palace and royal treasures sliould fall into tlie hands of his successful rival. The seven days' reign may refer either to the brief duration of his royal autliority, or the period in which he enjoyed unmolested tranquillity in the palace. 19. For Ills sins ivliich he sinned—This violent cud was a just retribution for his crimes. "His walking in tlie ways of Jeroboam" might have been manifested either by the previous course of his life, or by his decrees publislied on his ascension, when he made a strong effort to gain popularity by announcing his continued support of tlie calf-worship. 31,33. Tlien were the people divided into two parts—The factions tliat ensued occasioned a four years' duration (cf. v. 15 with v. 23), of anarchy or civil war. Whatever might be the public opinion of Omri's merits, a large body of the people disapproved of the mode of his election, and declared for Tibni. Tliearmy, however, as usual in sucli circumstances (and they had the will of Providence favouring them), prevailed over all opposition, and Omri became undisputed possessor of the throne. Tlbnl died—Tiie Heb. does not enable us to determine whether his death was violent or natural.
icles 10. 10-12), where an additional proof is given of his religious degeneracy.
25-34. Nadab's Wicked Reign. 35. Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign—No record is given of him, except liis close adherence to tlie bad policy of his father. 87. Baaslia smote him at Gibbethon—This town, witliiii the tribe of Dan, was given to the Levites (Joshua 19. 44).
2:i-28. Omri Builds Samaria. 33. In the thirty and tirst year of Asa . . . began Omri to reign—The twelve years of his reign are computed from the beginning of Ills reign, which was in tlie twenty-seventh year of Asa's reign. He held a contested reign for four years with Tibni; and tlien, at the date stated in tills verfse, entere<l on a sole and peaceful reign of eight years. 34. he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer—The palace of Tirzah Iwing in ruins, Omri, in selecting the site of his royal residence, was naturally influenced by considerations bot h of pleasure and advantage. In the centre of a wide ampliitlieatre of mountains, aiiout six miles from Shecliem, rises an oblong hill with steep, yet accessible sides, an<l a long flat top extending east and west, and rising 500 or GOO feet above
It lay on the Philistine borders, and having been seized by that people, Nadab laid siege to recover it. 39. wlien he reigned, he smote all the house of .leroboam—It was according to a liarbarous practice too common in the East, for a usurper to extirpate all rival candidates for the throne; but it was an accomplislimentof Ahijah's prophecy concerning Jeroboam (cli. 14. 10, 11).
CHAPTER XVI.
"Ver. 1-8. Jehu's Prophecy again.st Baasha. 1. Then the word of tlie Iord came to .Tehn—This is the only incident recorded in the life of tliis prophet. His fatlier was also a ptopliet (2 Chronicles IG. 7). 3. Forasmuch as I exalted thee—Tlie doom lie pronounced on Baaslia was exactly the same a.s denounced against Jeroboam and his posterity. Though he had waded through slaughter to Ills throne, ho owed his elevation to the appointment or permission of Illm "by whom kings reign." over my people Israel—With all their errors and lapses into Idolatry, they were not wli(»lly abandoned by God. He still sliowed His Interest in them by sending prophets and working miracles in their favour, and possessed a multitude" of faithful worsliippers in the kingdom of Israel. 7. also by the liand of the prophet Jehu—This is not another prophecy, but merely an addition by the sacred historian, explan.atory of the death of Baasha and the extinction of his fuinily. The doom pronounced against Jeroboam (cli.
tiie valley. What Omri in all probability built as a mere palatial residence, became the capital of the kingdom Instead of Shechem. It was as though Versailles had taken the place of Paris, or Windsor of London. Tlie choice of Omri was admirable, in selecting a position which combined in a union not elsewhere found in Palestine strength, beaut,v, and fertility. [Stanley.] tw« talents of silver—£G84. Shemer li*d, probably, made it a condition of tlie sale, that the name should bo retained. But as city and palace were built there by Omri, it was in accordance with Eastern custom to call it after the founder. The Assyrians did so, and on a tablet dug out of the ruins of Nineveh, an inscription was found relating to Samaria, whleli is called Beth-klmmri—the liouse of Omri. [Layaud.1 (See on 2 Kings 17. 5.) 35-37. But Omri wrought evil—The character of Omri's reign and his death are described in the stereotyped form used towards all the successors of Jeroboam In respect both to policy as well as time. 39-33. Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the siglit of the Iionl above nil that were before him—Tlio worship of God by symbols had liillierlo been the oll'enslve form of apostasy In Israel, but now gross idolatry Is openly patronized by the court. This was done through the Influence of Jezebel, Allah's ([iieen. She was "the daughter of lOtli-baal, king of the /Idoiilnus." He was priest of Aslitaroth or Astarte, who, having murdered Phlletes, king of Tyre, ascended the throne of that
14. 0), did not entitle hirn to take the execution of the sentence into his own liands ; but from his following the same calfworship, he had evidently plotted the conspiracy and murder of that king in furllierance of Ills own ambitious designs, and lience, in his own assassination, lie met tlujust reward of Ills deeds. The similitude to Jeroboam extends to their deatlis as well as their lives -the relgii of their sons, and the ruin of their families. 8. began IClahllie son of Baasha to reign—(cf. ch. iri. %(). Krom this It will appear that Baasha died In the twenly-