Jehu son of Hanani prophesies against Baasha: like Jeroboam's house, his house will be cut off for provoking the LORD. Baasha dies, his son Elah reigns two years until his servant Zimri, a chariot commander, assassinates him while drunk and destroys Baasha's entire household as prophesied. Zimri reigns seven days in Tirzah; when the army at Gibbethon hears, they make commander Omri king. Omri besieges Tirzah; Zimri burns the palace over himself. The people divide—half follow Tibni, half Omri—until Tibni dies and Omri prevails. Omri reigns twelve years, builds Samaria, but does more evil than all before him. His son Ahab reigns twenty-two years, marries Jezebel of Sidon, erects a Baal altar and temple in Samaria, makes an Asherah, and provokes the LORD more than all previous kings. In his days, Hiel of Bethel rebuilds Jericho at the cost of his firstborn and youngest sons, fulfilling Joshua's curse.
Read 1 Kings Chapter 16 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
David's son, wisest and wealthiest king, builder of the temple, but later fell into idolatry
Prophet who confronted Baal worship and demonstrated God's power on Mount Carmel
Wicked king of Israel who promoted Baal worship through his wife Jezebel
Ahab's Phoenician wife who promoted Baal worship and persecuted God's prophets
Solomon's son whose harsh policies caused the kingdom to divide
Son of Jacob, Ancestor of David and Christ
First High Priest of the Second Temple
Places in This Chapter
Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and later became the name for the entire region between Judea and Galilee. After the Assyrian conquest, the population became mixed, and the Samaritans developed their own form of worship. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility. Jesus broke social barriers by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, was the first Canaanite city conquered by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River. Its walls famously fell after the Israelites marched around it for seven days as commanded by God through Joshua. Jesus later passed through Jericho, healing blind Bartimaeus and dining with the tax collector Zacchaeus.
Position in Book
Various kings, mostly evil in the north, with Asa as a faithful king in Judah.