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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 16:1-14

Here is, I. The ruin of the family of Baasha foretold. He was a man likely enough to have raised and established his family?active, politic, and daring; but he was an idolater, and this brought destruction upon his family. 1. God sent him warning of it before. (1.) That, if he were thereby wrought upon to repent and reform, the ruin might be prevented; for God threatens, that he may not strike, as one that desires not the death of sinners. (2.) That, if not, it might appear that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:9

And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots ,.... His military chariots; there were two captains of them, and this was one of them; so the Targum, "one of the two masters or captains of the chariots:' conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah ; who had the charge of his wine and other liquors, to which he was addicted beyond measure; and this was a fit opportunity for Zimri to fall upon him, and slay... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:10

And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him ,.... When in his drunken fit: and this was in the twenty seventh year of Asa ; when Elah had not reigned two full years: and reigned in his stead ; that is, Zimri; his reign was short indeed, but seven days, 1 Kings 16:15 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:11

And it came to pass when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne ,.... Perhaps the very first day, that he slew all the house of Baasha ; his whole family, all the children that he had, that there might be none to make pretensions to the throne: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks nor of his friends ; not any that might avenge the blood of his family, that might have a right or inclination to do it. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 16:11

He slew all the house of Baasha - He endeavored 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 neighboring houses, that the memory of such a person may perish from the earth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 16:8-14

The House of Baasha. The character of Baasha is drawn in the paragraphs immediately preceding, which also contain an account of his end, which was better than he deserved, and suggests the reality of a future retribution. His family so fully followed in his steps that we have no mention of an Abijah amongst them, "in whom was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel" (see 1 Kings 14:18 ). The judgment of God upon this wicked house is written in the words before us. We have to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 16:8-20

A Divine judgment and its instrument. I. THE JUDGMENT . 1 . It was delayed in God's long suffering . Baasha had reigned nearly twenty-four years; Elah nearly two. The Lord is swift to bless but slow to strike. He has no delight in a sinner's death. Do we remember that God's long suffering today is not forgetfulness or indifference, but the restraining of infinite love? 2 . It came upon him in his sin . The army was in the field, but he was not there. He was deaf to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 16:9

And his servant [Not only "subject," as Rawlinson, but officer. The same word is used of Jeroboam; 1 Kings 11:26 , note. We may almost trace here a lex talionis . Baasha was Nadab's "servant," as Jeroboam was Solomon's] Zimri [From the occurrence of this name among those of the descendants of Jonathan ( 1 Chronicles 8:36 ), it has been supposed (Stanley) that this was a last effort of the house of Saul to regain the throne], captain of half his chariots [ רֶכֶב as in 1 Kings... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 16:10

And Zimri went in [cf. 3:20 ; 2 Samuel 4:7 ] and smote him and killed him in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead . [Cf. 1 Kings 15:28 and 2 Kings 15:1-38 :93. It is curious how it happened three times in the history of Israel that "the only powerful prince in a new dynasty was its founder, and after his son and successor reigned two years, the power passed into other hands" (Ewald).] The Reign of Zimri . read more

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