1 Kings 16:1-34
THE REIGNS OF ELAH, ZIMRI, AND OMRI 1. Jehu the son of Hanani] Hanani is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7. Jehu's denunciation of Baasha is similar to Ahijah's denunciation of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REIGNS OF ELAH, ZIMRI, AND OMRI 1. Jehu the son of Hanani] Hanani is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7. Jehu's denunciation of Baasha is similar to Ahijah's denunciation of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE WAS.. DRUNK] Elah's incapacity and dissoluteness doubtless tempted Zimri to aspire to the throne.... [ Continue Reading ]
VANITIES] i.e. idols, and so in 1 Kings 16:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIBBETHON] see 1 Kings 15:27. The siege, begun in the reign of Nadab, had apparently not succeeded, and had been resumed.... [ Continue Reading ]
PALACE] RV 'castle.'... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HIS SINS, etc.] The phrase is a stereotyped one, and so is applied to Zimri in spite of the fact that he only reigned seven days.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE THIRTY AND FIRST YEAR OF ASA] probably an error: 1 Kings 16:27 gives 'in the twentyseventh year of Asa.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HILL SAMARIA] This stood in the middle of a wide and fertile valley (cp. Isaiah 28:1), and was a place of great natural strength, as is evidenced by the protracted sieges sustained by the city that was built upon it (2 Kings 6:24; 2 Kings 17:5). CALLED THE NAME.. SAMARIA] Heb. _Shõmeron_.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE REST.. OMRI] Omri seems to have engaged in war with the Syrians, but was so unsuccessful that he had to grant them the privilege of having 'streets' (i.e. trading quarters) in Samaria (1 Kings 20:34). Two additional facts respecting Omri's reign are furnished by certain inscriptions, (_a_) On th... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVED BAAL] Baal was merely a title (meaning 'lord' or 'owner') and was applicable to a number of deities (hence the plural Baalim) who were described as the Baals of particular localities ('Baal Peor,' 'Baal Hermon'). The introduction into Israel of the worship of the Zidonian Baal was more danger... [ Continue Reading ]
DID.. BUILD] i.e. fortified. Jericho, in the Jordan valley, a little N. of the Dead Sea, had been rebuilt since its destruction by Joshua, for it is mentioned in David's time (2 Samuel 10:5). In Abjram] RV 'with the loss of Abiram.' THE WORD OF THE LORD] see Joshua 6:26. For the potency believed to... [ Continue Reading ]