Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? As those of Jeroboam and Nadab were, 1 Kings 14:19 . read more
So Baasha slept with his fathers ,.... Or died, not a violent, but natural, death: and was buried in Tirzah ; where was the royal palace of the kings of Israel: and Elah his son reigned in his stead ; yet but a short time. read more
Jehu's Prophecy. Jehu was a prophet and the son of a prophet. Of his father Hanani we read in 2 Chronicles 16:7-10 , where it is recorded to his honour that he suffered imprisonment for the fidelity of his testimony against Asa. This son was worthy of such a father. His testimony before Baasha, a man of desperate resolution and unscrupulous irreligion, was admirably courageous. We hear of him again after an interval of forty years (see 2 Chronicles 19:2 ; 2 Chronicles 20:1-37 :84).... read more
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might [as to which see 1 Kings 15:17-21 . He could hardly have given a stronger proof of his might than by fortifying a post but five miles distant from Jerusalem. Keil, however, would interpret the word, both here and in 1 Kings 15:23 , of his energy and strength in government. Better Bähr, tapfere Thaten . Ewald hence infers that Baasha was "a man of distinguished bravery"], are they not written in the book of the... read more
So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tizrzah [cf. 1 Kings 15:21 , 1 Kings 15:33 . This place is twice mentioned as his residence], and Elah his son reigned in his stead . [It is perhaps more than a mere coincidence that this uncommon name, Elah ("terebinth," see note on 1 Kings 13:14 ), is also the name of the great valley ( 1 Samuel 17:2 , 1 Samuel 17:19 ; 1 Samuel 21:9 ) near to Gibbethon, where Baasha was proclaimed king.] read more
The “might” of Baasha is sufficiently indicated by those successes which drove Asa to call Ben-hadad to his aid. 1 Kings 15:17-21. read more
After Jeroboam (15:25-16:20)As predicted by Ahijah, Jeroboam’s dynasty soon came to an end. His son Nadab was murdered by Baasha, one of his army generals, who then declared himself king. Baasha quickly removed all possible rivals by destroying Jeroboam’s entire family (25-34; cf. 14:11-14). However, Baasha was no better than Jeroboam. Because he followed Jeroboam’s policies, he would suffer Jeroboam’s fate (16:1-4). Just as Baasha brought Jeroboam’s dynasty to an end by murdering Jeroboam’s... read more
slept, &c. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 . read more
A SUMMARY OF THE REIGN OF BAASHA"Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? And Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his stead. And moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Jehovah against Baasha, and against his house, both because of the evil that he did in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being... read more
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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