1καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐγένετοG1096{V-ANI-3S} λόγοςG3056{N-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} χειρὶG5495{N-DSF} ΙουG2447{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ανανι{N-PRI} πρὸςG4314{PREP} Βαασα{N-PRI} 2Ἀνθ᾽G473{PREP} ὧνG3739{R-GPM} ὕψωσάG5312{V-AAI-1S} σεG4771{P-AS} ἀπὸG575{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} γῆςG1065{N-GSF} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἔδωκάG1325{V-AAI-1S} σεG4771{P-AS} ἡγούμενονG2233{V-PMPAS} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} λαόνG2992{N-ASM} μουG1473{P-GS} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπορεύθηςG4198{V-API-2S} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} ὁδῷG3598{N-DSF} Ιεροβοαμ{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐξήμαρτες{V-AAI-2S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} λαόνG2992{N-ASM} μουG1473{P-GS} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} παροργίσαιG3949{V-AAN} μεG1473{P-AS} ἐνG1722{PREP} τοῖςG3588{T-DPM} ματαίοιςG3152{A-DPM} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM}, 3ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ἐγὼG1473{P-NS} ἐξεγείρωG1825{V-AAS-1S} ὀπίσωG3694{PREP} Βαασα{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ὄπισθενG3693{ADV} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} οἴκουG3624{N-GSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} δώσωG1325{V-FAI-1S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκόνG3624{N-ASM} σουG4771{P-GS} ὡςG3739{CONJ} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκονG3624{N-ASM} Ιεροβοαμ{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ναβατ{N-PRI}· 4τὸνG3588{T-ASM} τεθνηκόταG2348{V-RAPAS} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} Βαασα{N-PRI} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} πόλειG4172{N-DSF}, καταφάγονταιG2719{V-FMI-3P} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} οἱG3588{T-NPM} κύνεςG2965{N-NPM}, καὶG2532{CONJ} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} τεθνηκόταG2348{V-RAPAS} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSN} πεδίῳ{N-DSN}, καταφάγονταιG2719{V-FMI-3P} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} τὰG3588{T-NPN} πετεινὰG4071{N-NPN} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} οὐρανοῦG3772{N-GSM}. 5καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-NPN} λοιπὰG3062{A-NPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} Βαασα{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} πάνταG3956{A-APN}, ἃG3739{R-APN} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S}, καὶG2532{CONJ} αἱG3588{T-NPF} δυναστεῖαι{N-NPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, οὐκG3364{ADV} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ταῦταG3778{D-NPN} γεγραμμέναG1125{V-RPPNP} ἐνG1722{PREP} βιβλίῳG975{N-DSN} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ἡμερῶνG2250{N-GPF} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} βασιλέωνG935{N-GPM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI}; 6καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκοιμήθηG2837{V-API-3S} Βαασα{N-PRI} μετὰG3326{PREP} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} πατέρωνG3962{N-GPM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} θάπτεταιG2290{V-PPI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} βασιλεύειG936{V-PAI-3S} Ηλα{N-PRI} υἱὸςG5207{N-NSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἀντ᾽G473{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSN} εἰκοστῷ{A-DSN} ἔτειG2094{N-DSN} βασιλέωςG935{N-GSM} ΑσαG760{N-PRI}. 7καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐνG1722{PREP} χειρὶG5495{N-DSF} ΙουG2447{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ανανι{N-PRI} ἐλάλησενG2980{V-AAI-3S} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} Βαασα{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκονG3624{N-ASM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} πᾶσανG3956{A-ASF} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} κακίανG2549{N-ASF}, ἣνG3739{R-ASF} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} ἐνώπιονG1799{PREP} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} παροργίσαιG3949{V-AAN} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τοῖςG3588{T-DPN} ἔργοιςG2041{N-DPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} χειρῶνG5495{N-GPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, τοῦG3588{T-GSN} εἶναιG1510{V-PAN} κατὰG2596{PREP} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκονG3624{N-ASM} Ιεροβοαμ{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ὑπὲρG5228{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} πατάξαιG3960{V-AAN} αὐτόνG846{D-ASM}. 8ΚαὶG2532{CONJ} Ηλα{N-PRI} υἱὸςG5207{N-NSM} Βαασα{N-PRI} ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} δύοG1417{N-NUI} ἔτηG2094{N-APN} ἐνG1722{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI}. 9καὶG2532{CONJ} συνέστρεψενG4962{V-AAI-3S} ἐπ᾽G1909{PREP} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} Ζαμβρι{N-PRI} ὁG3588{T-NSM} ἄρχωνG757{V-PAPNS} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} ἡμίσουςG2255{A-GSF} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} ἵππουG2462{N-GSM}, καὶG2532{CONJ} αὐτὸςG846{D-NSM} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI} πίνωνG4095{V-PAPNS} μεθύωνG3184{V-PAPNS} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSM} οἴκῳG3624{N-DSM} Ωσα{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} οἰκονόμουG3623{N-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI}· 10καὶG2532{CONJ} εἰσῆλθενG1525{V-AAI-3S} Ζαμβρι{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπάταξενG3960{V-AAI-3S} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐθανάτωσενG2289{V-AAI-3S} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} ἀντ᾽G473{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}. 11καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐγενήθηG1096{V-API-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSN} βασιλεῦσαιG936{V-AAN} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSN} καθίσαιG2523{V-AAN} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} θρόνουG2362{N-GSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπάταξενG3960{V-AAI-3S} ὅλονG3650{A-ASM} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκονG3624{N-ASM} Βαασα{N-PRI} 12κατὰG2596{PREP} τὸG3588{T-ASN} ῥῆμαG4487{N-ASN}, ὃG3739{R-ASN} ἐλάλησενG2980{V-AAI-3S} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκονG3624{N-ASM} Βαασα{N-PRI} πρὸςG4314{PREP} ΙουG2447{N-PRI} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} προφήτηνG4396{N-ASM} 13περὶG4012{PREP} πασῶνG3956{A-GPF} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ἁμαρτιῶνG266{N-GPF} Βαασα{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} Ηλα{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, ὡςG3739{CONJ} ἐξήμαρτεν{V-AAI-3S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} παροργίσαιG3949{V-AAN} יהוהH3068{N-ASM} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} θεὸνG2316{N-ASM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} ἐνG1722{PREP} τοῖςG3588{T-DPM} ματαίοιςG3152{A-DPM} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM}. 14καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-NPN} λοιπὰG3062{A-NPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} Ηλα{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} πάνταG3956{A-APN}, ἃG3739{R-APN} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S}, οὐκG3364{ADV} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ταῦταG3778{D-NPN} γεγραμμέναG1125{V-RPPNP} ἐνG1722{PREP} βιβλίῳG975{N-DSN} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ἡμερῶνG2250{N-GPF} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} βασιλέωνG935{N-GPM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI}; 15ΚαὶG2532{CONJ} Ζαμβρι{N-PRI} ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} ἑπτὰG2033{N-NUI} ἡμέραςG2250{N-GSF} ἐνG1722{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI}. καὶG2532{CONJ} ἡG3588{T-NSF} παρεμβολὴG3925{N-NSF} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} Γαβαθων{N-PRI} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} ἀλλοφύλωνG246{N-GPM}, 16καὶG2532{CONJ} ἤκουσενG191{V-AAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} λαὸςG2992{N-NSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} παρεμβολῇG3925{N-DSF} λεγόντωνG3004{V-PAPGP} ΣυνεστράφηG4962{V-API-3S} Ζαμβρι{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἔπαισενG3815{V-AAI-3S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} βασιλέαG935{N-ASM}· καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐβασίλευσανG936{V-AAI-3P} ἐνG1722{PREP} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} Αμβρι{N-PRI} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ἡγούμενονG2233{V-PMPAS} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} στρατιᾶςG4756{N-GSF} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} ἡμέρᾳG2250{N-DSF} ἐκείνῃG1565{D-DSF} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} παρεμβολῇG3925{N-DSF}. 17καὶG2532{CONJ} ἀνέβηG305{V-AAI-3S} Αμβρι{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} πᾶςG3956{A-NSM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} μετ᾽G3326{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐκG1537{PREP} Γαβαθων{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} περιεκάθισαν{V-AAI-3P} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI}. 18καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐγενήθηG1096{V-API-3S} ὡςG3739{CONJ} εἶδενG3708{V-AAI-3S} Ζαμβρι{N-PRI} ὅτιG3754{CONJ} προκατείλημπται{V-YPI-3S} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἡG3588{T-NSF} πόλιςG4172{N-NSF}, καὶG2532{CONJ} εἰσπορεύεταιG1531{V-PMI-3S} εἰςG1519{PREP} ἄντρον{N-ASN} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} οἴκουG3624{N-GSM} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} βασιλέωςG935{N-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐνεπύρισεν{V-AAI-3S} ἐπ᾽G1909{PREP} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} οἶκονG3624{N-ASM} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} βασιλέωςG935{N-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} πυρὶG4442{N-DSN} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἀπέθανενG599{V-AAI-3S} 19ὑπὲρG5228{PREP} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ἁμαρτιῶνG266{N-GPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, ὧνG3739{R-GPM} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ποιῆσαιG4160{V-AAN} τὸG3588{T-ASN} πονηρὸνG4190{A-ASN} ἐνώπιονG1799{PREP} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} πορευθῆναιG4198{V-APN} ἐνG1722{PREP} ὁδῷG3598{N-DSF} Ιεροβοαμ{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ναβατ{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐνG1722{PREP} ταῖςG3588{T-DPF} ἁμαρτίαιςG266{N-DPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, ὡςG3739{CONJ} ἐξήμαρτεν{V-AAI-3S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI}. 20καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-NPN} λοιπὰG3062{A-NPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} Ζαμβρι{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰςG3588{T-APF} συνάψεις{N-APF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, ἃςG3739{R-APF} συνῆψεν{V-AAI-3S}, οὐκG3364{ADV} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ταῦταG3778{D-NPN} γεγραμμέναG1125{V-RPPNP} ἐνG1722{PREP} βιβλίῳG975{N-DSN} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} ἡμερῶνG2250{N-GPF} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} βασιλέωνG935{N-GPM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI}; 21ΤότεG5119{ADV} μερίζεταιG3307{V-PMI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} λαὸςG2992{N-NSM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI}· ἥμισυG2255{A-NSN} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} λαοῦG2992{N-GSM} γίνεταιG1096{V-PMI-3S} ὀπίσωG3694{PREP} Θαμνι{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Γωναθ{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} βασιλεῦσαιG936{V-AAN} αὐτόνG846{D-ASM}, καὶG2532{CONJ} τὸG3588{T-NSN} ἥμισυG2255{A-NSN} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} λαοῦG2992{N-GSM} γίνεταιG1096{V-PMI-3S} ὀπίσωG3694{PREP} Αμβρι{N-PRI}. 22ὁG3588{T-NSM} λαὸςG2992{N-NSM} ὁG3588{T-NSM} ὢνG1510{V-PAPNS} ὀπίσωG3694{PREP} Αμβρι{N-PRI} ὑπερεκράτησεν{V-AAI-3S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} λαὸνG2992{N-ASM} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ὀπίσωG3694{PREP} Θαμνι{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Γωναθ{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἀπέθανενG599{V-AAI-3S} Θαμνι{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ΙωραμG2496{N-PRI} ὁG3588{T-NSM} ἀδελφὸςG80{N-NSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSM} καιρῷG2540{N-DSM} ἐκείνῳG1565{D-DSM}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} Αμβρι{N-PRI} μετὰG3326{PREP} Θαμνι{N-PRI}. 23ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSN} ἔτειG2094{N-DSN} τῷG3588{T-DSM} τριακοστῷ{A-DSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} πρώτῳG4413{A-DSMS} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} βασιλέωςG935{N-GSM} ΑσαG760{N-PRI} βασιλεύειG936{V-PAI-3S} Αμβρι{N-PRI} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} δώδεκαG1427{N-NUI} ἔτηG2094{N-APN}. ἐνG1722{PREP} Θερσα{N-PRI} βασιλεύειG936{V-PAI-3S} ἓξG1803{N-NUI} ἔτηG2094{N-APN}· 24καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκτήσατοG2932{V-ANI-3S} Αμβρι{N-PRI} τὸG3588{T-ASN} ὄροςG3735{N-ASN} τὸG3588{T-ASN} ΣεμερωνG4594{N-PRI} παρὰG3844{PREP} Σεμηρ{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} κυρίουG2962{N-GSM} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ὄρουςG3735{N-GSN} δύοG1417{N-NUI} ταλάντωνG5007{N-GPN} ἀργυρίουG694{N-GSN} καὶG2532{CONJ} ᾠκοδόμησενG3618{V-AAI-3S} τὸG3588{T-ASN} ὄροςG3735{N-ASN} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπεκάλεσεν{V-AAI-3S} τὸG3588{T-ASN} ὄνομαG3686{N-ASN} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ὄρουςG3735{N-GSN}, οὗG3739{R-GSN} ᾠκοδόμεσενG3618{V-AAI-3S}, ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSN} ὀνόματιG3686{N-DSN} Σεμηρ{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} κυρίουG2962{N-GSM} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ὄρουςG3735{N-GSN} Σαεμηρων{N-PRI}. 25καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} Αμβρι{N-PRI} τὸG3588{T-ASN} πονηρὸνG4190{A-ASN} ἐνώπιονG1799{PREP} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπονηρεύσατο{V-ANI-3S} ὑπὲρG5228{PREP} πάνταςG3956{A-APM} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} γενομένουςG1096{V-AMPAP} ἔμπροσθενG1715{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}· 26καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπορεύθηG4198{V-API-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} πάσῃG3956{A-DSF} ὁδῷG3598{N-DSF} Ιεροβοαμ{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ναβατ{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐνG1722{PREP} ταῖςG3588{T-DPF} ἁμαρτίαιςG266{N-DPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, αἷςG3739{R-DPF} ἐξήμαρτεν{V-AAI-3S} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} παροργίσαιG3949{V-AAN} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} יהוהH3068{N-ASM} θεὸνG2316{N-ASM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} ἐνG1722{PREP} τοῖςG3588{T-DPM} ματαίοιςG3152{A-DPM} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM}. 27καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-NPN} λοιπὰG3062{A-NPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} Αμβρι{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} πάνταG3956{A-APN}, ἃG3739{R-APN} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἡG3588{T-NSF} δυναστεία{N-NSF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, οὐκG3364{ADV} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ταῦταG3778{D-NPN} γεγραμμέναG1125{V-RPPNP} ἐνG1722{PREP} βιβλίῳG975{N-DSN} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ἡμερῶνG2250{N-GPF} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} βασιλέωνG935{N-GPM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI}; 28καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκοιμήθηG2837{V-API-3S} Αμβρι{N-PRI} μετὰG3326{PREP} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} πατέρωνG3962{N-GPM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} θάπτεταιG2290{V-PPI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} ΣαμαρείᾳG4540{N-DSF}, καὶG2532{CONJ} βασιλεύειG936{V-PAI-3S} Αχααβ{N-PRI} υἱὸςG5207{N-GSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἀντ᾽G473{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}. ΚαὶG2532{CONJ} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ἐνιαυτῷG1763{N-DSM} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ἑνδεκάτῳG1734{A-DSM} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} Αμβρι{N-PRI} βασιλεύειG936{V-PAI-3S} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI} υἱὸςG5207{N-NSM} ΑσαG760{N-PRI} ἐτῶνG2094{N-GPN} τριάκονταG5144{N-NUI} καὶG2532{CONJ} πέντεG4002{N-NUI} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} βασιλείᾳG932{N-DSF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, καὶG2532{CONJ} εἴκοσιG1501{N-NUI} πέντεG4002{N-NUI} ἔτηG2094{N-APN} ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} ΙερουσαλημG2419{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ὄνομαG3686{N-ASN} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} μητρὸςG3384{N-GSF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} Γαζουβα{N-PRI} θυγάτηρG2364{N-NSF} Σελει{N-PRI}. καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπορεύθηG4198{V-API-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} ὁδῷG3598{N-DSF} ΑσαG760{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} πατρὸςG3962{N-GSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἐξέκλινενG1578{V-IAI-3S} ἀπ᾽G575{PREP} αὐτῆςG846{D-GSF} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ποιεῖνG4160{V-PAN} τὸG3588{T-ASN} εὐθὲς{A-ASN} ἐνώπιονG1799{PREP} κυρίουG2962{N-GSM}· πλὴνG4133{ADV} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} ὑψηλῶνG5308{A-GPM} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἐξῆρανG3584{A-ASF}, ἔθυονG2380{V-IAI-3P} ἐνG1722{PREP} τοῖςG3588{T-DPM} ὑψηλοῖςG5308{A-DPM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐθυμίωνG2370{V-IAI-3P}. καὶG2532{CONJ} ἃG3739{R-APN} συνέθετο{V-ANI-3S} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} πᾶσαG3956{A-NSF} ἡG3588{T-NSF} δυναστεία{N-NSF}, ἣνG3739{R-ASF} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S}, καὶG2532{CONJ} οὓςG3739{R-APM} ἐπολέμησενG4170{V-AAI-3S}, οὐκG3364{ADV} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ταῦταG3778{D-NPN} γεγραμμέναG1125{V-RPPNP} ἐνG1722{PREP} βιβλίῳG975{N-DSN} λόγωνG3056{N-GPM} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ἡμερῶνG2250{N-GPF} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} βασιλέωνG935{N-GPM} ΙουδαG2448{N-PRI}; καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-NPN} λοιπὰG3062{A-NPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} συμπλοκῶν{A-GPF}, ἃςG3739{R-APF} ἐπέθεντοG2007{V-AMI-3P} ἐνG1722{PREP} ταῖςG3588{T-DPF} ἡμέραιςG2250{N-DPF} ΑσαG760{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} πατρὸςG3962{N-GSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, ἐξῆρενG1808{V-AAI-3S} ἀπὸG575{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} γῆςG1065{N-GSF}. καὶG2532{CONJ} βασιλεὺςG935{N-NSM} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} ΣυρίᾳG4947{N-DSF} νασιβ{N-PRI}.καὶG2532{CONJ} ὁG3588{T-NSM} βασιλεὺςG935{N-NSM} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} ναῦνG3491{N-ASF} εἰςG1519{PREP} Θαρσις{N-PRI} πορεύεσθαιG4198{V-PMN} εἰςG1519{PREP} Σωφιρ{N-PRI} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τὸG3588{T-ASN} χρυσίονG5553{N-ASN}· καὶG2532{CONJ} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἐπορεύθηG4198{V-API-3S}, ὅτιG3754{CONJ} συνετρίβηG4937{V-API-3S} ἡG3588{T-NSF} ναῦςG3491{N-APF} ἐνG1722{PREP} Γασιωνγαβερ{N-PRI}. τότεG5119{ADV} εἶπενG3004{V-AAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} βασιλεὺςG935{N-NSM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} πρὸςG4314{PREP} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI} ἘξαποστελῶG1821{V-FAI-3S} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} παῖδάςG3816{N-APM} σουG4771{P-GS} καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-APN} παιδάριάG3808{N-APN} μουG1473{P-GS} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} νηίG3491{N-DSF}· καὶG2532{CONJ} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἐβούλετοG1014{V-IMI-3S} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI}. καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκοιμήθηG2837{V-API-3S} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI} μετὰG3326{PREP} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} πατέρωνG3962{N-GPM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} θάπτεταιG2290{V-PPI-3S} μετὰG3326{PREP} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} πατέρωνG3962{N-GPM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐνG1722{PREP} πόλειG4172{N-DSF} ΔαυιδG1138{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} ΙωραμG2496{N-PRI} υἱὸςG5207{N-NSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἀντ᾽G473{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}. 29ἘνG1722{PREP} ἔτειG2094{N-DSN} δευτέρῳG1208{A-DSN} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ΙωσαφατG2498{N-PRI} βασιλεύειG936{V-PAI-3S} Αχααβ{N-PRI} υἱὸςG5207{N-NSM} Αμβρι{N-PRI}· ἐβασίλευσενG936{V-AAI-3S} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} ἐνG1722{PREP} ΣαμαρείᾳG4540{N-DSF} εἴκοσιG1501{N-NUI} καὶG2532{CONJ} δύοG1417{N-NUI} ἔτηG2094{N-APN}. 30καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} Αχααβ{N-PRI} τὸG3588{T-ASN} πονηρὸνG4190{A-ASN} ἐνώπιονG1799{PREP} יהוהH3068{N-GSM}, ἐπονηρεύσατο{V-ANI-3S} ὑπὲρG5228{PREP} πάνταςG3956{A-APM} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} ἔμπροσθενG1715{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}· 31καὶG2532{CONJ} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} ἱκανὸνG2425{A-ASM} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} πορεύεσθαιG4198{V-PMN} ἐνG1722{PREP} ταῖςG3588{T-DPF} ἁμαρτίαιςG266{N-DPF} Ιεροβοαμ{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ναβατ{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἔλαβενG2983{V-AAI-3S} γυναῖκαG1135{N-ASF} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} ΙεζαβελG2403{N-PRI} θυγατέραG2364{N-ASF} Ιεθεβααλ{N-PRI} βασιλέωςG935{N-GSM} ΣιδωνίωνG4606{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐπορεύθηG4198{V-API-3S} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐδούλευσενG1398{V-AAI-3S} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ΒααλG896{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} προσεκύνησενG4352{V-AAI-3S} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM}. 32καὶG2532{CONJ} ἔστησενG2476{V-AAI-3S} θυσιαστήριονG2379{N-ASN} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ΒααλG896{N-PRI} ἐνG1722{PREP} οἴκῳG3624{N-DSM} τῶνG3588{T-GPN} προσοχθισμάτων{N-GPN} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}, ὃνG3739{R-ASM} ᾠκοδόμησενG3618{V-AAI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} ΣαμαρείᾳG4540{N-DSF}, 33καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐποίησενG4160{V-AAI-3S} Αχααβ{N-PRI} ἄλσος{N-ASN}, καὶG2532{CONJ} προσέθηκενG4369{V-AAI-3S} Αχααβ{N-PRI} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ποιῆσαιG4160{V-AAN} παροργίσματα{N-APN} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} παροργίσαιG3949{V-AAN} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} ψυχὴνG5590{N-ASF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ἐξολεθρευθῆναιG1842{V-APN}· ἐκακοποίησενG2554{V-AAI-3S} ὑπὲρG5228{PREP} πάνταςG3956{A-APM} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} βασιλεῖςG935{N-APM} ΙσραηλG2474{N-PRI} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} γενομένουςG1096{V-AMPAP} ἔμπροσθενG1715{PREP} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM}. 34ἐνG1722{PREP} ταῖςG3588{T-DPF} ἡμέραιςG2250{N-DPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ᾠκοδόμησενG3618{V-AAI-3S} Αχιηλ{N-PRI} ὁG3588{T-NSM} Βαιθηλίτης{N-NSM} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} ΙεριχωG2410{N-PRI}· ἐνG1722{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSM} Αβιρων{N-PRI} τῷG3588{T-DSM} πρωτοτόκῳG4416{A-DSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐθεμελίωσενG2311{V-AAI-3S} αὐτὴνG846{D-ASF} καὶG2532{CONJ} τῷG3588{T-DSM} Σεγουβ{N-PRI} τῷG3588{T-DSM} νεωτέρῳG3501{A-DSM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἐπέστησενG2186{V-AAI-3S} θύραςG2374{N-GSF} αὐτῆςG846{D-GSF} κατὰG2596{PREP} τὸG3588{T-ASN} ῥῆμαG4487{N-ASN} יהוהH3068{N-GSM}, ὃG3739{R-ASN} ἐλάλησενG2980{V-AAI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} χειρὶG5495{N-DSF} ΙησουG2424{N-PRI} υἱοῦG5207{N-GSM} Ναυη{N-PRI}.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 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 destruction when it did come, whoever might be instruments of it, was the act of God's justice and the punishment of sin.
2. The warning was sent by
Jehu the son of Hanani. The father was a seer, or prophet, at the same time (
2Chr 16:7), and was sent to Asa king of Judah; but the son, who was young and more active, was sent on this longer and more dangerous expedition to Baasha king of Israel.
Juniores ad labores -
Toil and adventure are for the young. This Jehu was a prophet and the son of a prophet. Prophecy, thus happily entailed, was worthy of so much the more honour. This Jehu continued long in his usefulness, for we find him reproving Jehoshaphat (
2Chr 19:2) above forty years after, and writing the annals of that prince,
2Chr 20:34. The message which this prophet brought to Baasha is much the same with that which Ahijah sent to Jeroboam by his wife.
(1.) He reminds Baasha of the great things God had done for him (
1Kgs 16:2):
I exalted thee out of the dust to the
throne of glory, a great instance of the divine sovereignty and power,
1Sam 2:8. Baasha seemed to have raised himself by his own treachery and cruelty, yet there was a hand of Providence in it, to bring about God's counsel, concerning Jeroboam's house; and God's owning his advancement as his act and deed does by no means amount to the patronising of his ambition and treachery. It is God that puts power into bad men's hands, which he makes to serve his good purposes, notwithstanding the bad use they make of it.
I made thee prince over my people. God calls Israel his people still, though wretchedly corrupted, because they retained the covenant of circumcision, and there were many good people among them; it was not till long after that they were called
Loammi, not a people, Hos 1:9.
(2.) He charges him with high crimes and misdemeanours, [1.] That he had caused
Israel to sin, had seduced God's subjects from their allegiance and brought them to pay to dunghill-deities the homage due to him only, and herein he had
walked in the way of Jeroboam (
1Kgs 16:2), and been
like his house, 1Kgs 16:7. [2.] That he had himself
provoked God to anger with the work of his hands, that is, by worshipping images, the
work of men's hands; though perhaps others made them, yet he served them and thereby avowed the making of them, and they are therefore called the
work of his hands. [3.] That he had
destroyed the house of Jeroboam (
1Kgs 16:7),
because he killed him, namely, Jeroboam's son and all his: if he had done that with an eye to God, to his will and glory, and from a holy indignation against the sins of Jeroboam and his house, he would have been accepted and applauded as a minister of God's justice; but, as he did it, he was only the tool of God's justice, but a servant to his own lusts, and is justly punished for the malice and ambition which actuated and governed him in all he did. Note, Those who are in any way employed in denouncing or executing the justice of God (magistrates or ministers) are concerned to do it from a good principle and in a holy manner, lest it turn into sin to them and they make themselves obnoxious by it.
(3.) He foretels the same destruction to come upon his family which he himself had been employed to bring upon the family of Jeroboam,
1Kgs 16:3,
1Kgs 16:4. Note, Those who resemble others in their sins may expect to resemble them in their plagues, especially those who seem zealous against such sins in others as they allow themselves in; the house of Jehu was reckoned with for the blood of the house of Ahab,
Hos 1:4.
II. A reprieve granted for some time, so long that Baasha himself dies in peace, and is buried with honour in his own royal city (
1Kgs 16:6), so far is he from being a prey either to the dogs or to the fowls, which yet was threatened to his house,
1Kgs 16:4. He lives not either to see or feel the punishment threatened, yet he was himself the greatest delinquent. Certainly there must be a future state, in which impenitent sinners will suffer in their own persons, and not escape, as often they do in this world. Baasha died under no visible stroke of divine vengeance for aught that appears, but
God laid up his iniquity for his children, as Job speaks,
Job 21:19. Thus he often visits sin. Observe, Baasha is punished by the destruction of his children after his death, and his children are punished by the abuse of their bodies after their death; that is the only thing which the threatening specifies (
1Kgs 16:4), that the dogs and the fowls of the air should eat them, as if herein were designed a tacit intimation that there are punishments after death, when death has done its worst, which will be the sorest punishments and are most to be dreaded; these judgments on the body and posterity signified judgments on the soul when separated from the body, by him who,
after he has killed, has power to cast into hell. III. Execution done at last. Baasha's son Elah, like Jeroboam's son Nadab, reigned two years, and then was slain by Zimri, one of his own soldiers, as Nadab was by Baasha; so like was his house made to that of Jeroboam, as was threatened,
1Kgs 16:3. Because his idolatry was like his, and one of the sins for which God contended with him being the destruction of Jeroboam's family, the more the destruction of his own resembled that, the nearer did the punishment resemble the sin, as face answers to face in a glass.
1. As then, so now, the king himself was first slain, but Elah fell more ingloriously than Nadab. Nadab was slain in the field of action and honour, he and his army then besieging Gibbethon (
1Kgs 15:27); but the siege being then raised upon that disaster, and the city remaining still in the Philistines' hands, the army of Israel was now renewing the attempt (
1Kgs 16:15) and Elah should have been with them to command in chief, but he loved his own ease and safety better than his honour or duty, or the public good, and therefore staid behind to take his pleasure; and, when he was
drinking himself drunk in his servant's house, Zimri killed him,
1Kgs 16:9,
1Kgs 16:10. Let it be a warning to drunkards, especially to those who designedly drink themselves drunk, that they know not but death may surprise them in that condition. (1.) Death comes easily upon men when they are drunk. Besides the chronic diseases which men frequently bring themselves into by hard drinking, and which cut them off in the midst of their days, men in that condition are more easily overcome by an enemy, as Amnon by Absalom, and are liable to more bad accidents, being unable to help themselves, (2.) Death comes terribly upon men in that condition. Finding them in the act of sin, and incapacitated for any act of devotion, that day
comes upon them unawares (
Luke 21:34), like a thief.
2. As then, so now, the whole family was cut off, and rooted out. The traitor was the successor, to whom the unthinking people tamely submitted, as if it were all one to them what kind they had, so that they had one. The first thing Zimri did was to
slay all the house of Baasha; thus he held by cruelty what he got by treason. His cruelty seems to have extended further than Baasha's did against the house of Jeroboam, for he left to Elah
none of his kinsfolks or friends (
1Kgs 16:11),
none of his avengers (so the word is), none that were likely to avenge his death; yet divine justice soon avenged it so remarkably that it was used as a proverb long after,
Had Zimri peace who slew his master? 2Kgs 9:31. In this, (1.) The word of God was fulfilled,
1Kgs 16:12. (2.) The sins of Baasha and Elah were reckoned for, with which they
provoked God by their vanities, 1Kgs 16:13. Their idols are called their
vanities, for they cannot profit nor help. Miserable are those whose deities are vanities.
15 Solomon observes (
Prov 28:2) that
for the transgression of a land many were the princes thereof (so it was here in Israel),
but by a man of understanding the state thereof shall be prolonged - so it was with Judah at the same time under Asa. When men forsake God they are out of the way of rest and establishment. Zimri, and Tibni, and Omri, are here striving for the crown. Proud aspiring men ruin one another, and involve others in the ruin. These confusions end in the settlement of Omri; we must therefore take him along with us through this part of the story.
I. How he was chosen, as the Roman emperors often were, by the army in the field, now encamped before Gibbethon. Notice was soon brought thither that Zimri had slain their king (
1Kgs 16:16) and set up himself in Tirzah, the royal city, whereupon they chose Omri king in the camp, that they might without delay avenge the death of Elah upon Zimri. Though he was idle and intemperate, yet he was their king, and they would not tamely submit to his murderer, nor let the treason go unpunished. They did not attempt to avenge the death of Nadab upon Baasha, perhaps because the house of Baasha had ruled with more gentleness than the house of Jeroboam; but Zimri shall feel the resentments of the provoked army. The siege of Gibbethon is quitted (Philistines are sure to gain when Israelites quarrel) and Zimri is prosecuted.
II. How he conquered Zimri, who is said to have reigned seven days (
1Kgs 16:15), so long before Omri was proclaimed king and himself proclaimed traitor; but we may suppose it was a longer time before he died, for he continued long enough to show his inclination to the way of Jeroboam, and to make himself obnoxious to the justice of God by supporting his idolatry,
1Kgs 16:19. Tirzah was a beautiful city, but not fortified, so that Omri soon made himself master of it (
1Kgs 16:17), forced Zimri into the palace, which being unable to defend, and yet unwilling to surrender, he burnt, and himself in it,
1Kgs 16:18. Unwilling that his rival should ever enjoy that sumptuous palace, he burnt it; and fearing that if he fell into the hands of the army, either alive or dead, he should be ignominiously treated, he burnt himself in it. See what desperate practices men's wickedness sometimes brings them to, and how it hurries them into their own ruin; see the disposition of incendiaries, who set palaces and kingdoms on fire, though they are themselves in danger of perishing in the flame.
III. How he struggled with Tibni, and at length got clear of him:
Half of the people followed this Tibni (
1Kgs 16:21), probably those who were in Zimri's interest, with whom others joined, who would not have a king chosen in the camp (lest he should rule by the sword and a standing army), but in a convention of the states. The contest between these two lasted some years, and, it is likely, cost a great deal of blood on both sides, for it was in the twenty-seventh year of Asa that Omri was first elected (
1Kgs 16:15) and thence the twelve years of his reign are to be dated; but it was not till the thirty-first year of Asa that he began to reign without a rival; then Tibni died, it is likely in battle,
and Omri reigned, 1Kgs 16:22. Sir Walter Raleigh, in his History of the World (2.19.6), enquires here why it was that in all these confusions and revolutions of the kingdom of Israel they never thought of returning to the house of David, and uniting themselves again to Judah,
for then it was better with them than now; and he thinks the reason was because the kings of Judah assumed a more absolute, arbitrary, and despotic power than the kings of Israel. It was the heaviness of the yoke that they complained of when they first revolted from the house of David, and the dread of that made them ever after averse to it, and attached to kings of their own, who ruled more by law and the rules of a limited monarchy.
IV. How he reigned when he was at length settled on the throne. 1. He made himself famous by building Samaria, which, ever after, was the royal city of the kings of Israel (the palace at Tirzah being burnt), and in process of time grew so considerable that it gave name to the middle part of Canaan (which lay between Galilee on the north and Judea on the south) and to the inhabitants of that country, who were called
Samaritans. He bought the ground for
two talents of silver, somewhat more than 700
l. of our money, for a talent was 353
l. 11
s. 10 1/2
d. Perhaps Shemer, who sold him the ground, let him have it considerably the cheaper upon condition that the city should be called after his name, for otherwise it would have borne the name of the purchaser; it was called
Samaria, or
Shemeren (as it is in the Hebrew), from Shemer, the former owner,
1Kgs 16:24. The kings of Israel changed their royal seats, Shechem first, then Tirzah, now Samaria; but the kings of Judah were constant to Jerusalem, the city of God. Those that cleave to the Lord fix, but those that leave him ever wander. 2. He made himself infamous by his wickedness; for
he did worse than all that were before him, 1Kgs 16:25. Though he was brought to the throne with much difficulty, and Providence had remarkably favoured him in his advancement, yet he was more profane, or more superstitious, and a greater persecutor, than either of the houses of Jeroboam or Baasha. He went further than they had done in
establishing iniquity by a law, and forcing his subjects to comply with him in it; for we read of the statutes of Omri, the keeping of which made
Israel a desolation, Mic 6:16. Jeroboam caused Israel to sin by temptation, example, and allurement; but Omri did it by compulsion.
V. How he ended his reign,
1Kgs 16:27,
1Kgs 16:28. He was in some repute for the might which he showed. Many a bad man has been a stout man. He died in his bed, as did Jeroboam and Baasha themselves; but, like them, left it to his posterity to fill up the measure, and then pay off the scores, of his iniquity.
29 We have here the beginning of the reign of Ahab, of whom we have more particulars recorded than of any of the kings of Israel. We have here only a general idea given us of him, as the worst of all the kings, that we may expect what the particulars will be. He reigned twenty-two years, long enough to do a great deal of mischief.
I. He exceeded all his predecessors in wickedness,
did evil above all that were before him (
1Kgs 16:30), and, as if it were done with a particular enmity both to God and Israel, to affront him and ruin them, it is said,
He did more purposely
to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger, and, consequently, to send judgments on his land,
than all the kings of Israel that were before him, 1Kgs 16:33. It was bad with the people when every successive king was worse than his predecessor. What would they come to at last? He had seen the ruin of other wicked kings and their families; yet, instead of taking warning, his heart was hardened and enraged against God by it. He thought it
a light thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, 1Kgs 16:31. It was nothing to break the second commandment by image-worship, he would set aside the first also by introducing other gods; his little finger should fall heavier upon God's ordinances than Jeroboam's loins. Making light of less sins makes way for greater, and those that endeavour to extenuate other people's sins will but aggravate their own.
II. He married a wicked woman, who he knew would bring in the worship of Baal, and seemed to marry her with that design.
As if it had been a light thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, he took to wife Jezebel (
1Kgs 16:31), a zealous idolater, extremely imperious and malicious in her natural temper, addicted to witchcrafts and whoredoms (
2Kgs 9:22), and every way vicious. The false prophetess spoken of
Revel 2:20 is there called
Jezebel, for a wicked woman could not be called by a worse name than hers; what mischiefs she did, and what mischief at last befel her (
2Kgs 9:33), we shall find in the following story; this one strange wife debauched Israel more than all the strange wives of Solomon.
III. He set up the worship of Baal, forsook the God of Israel and served the god of the Sidonians, Jupiter instead of Jehovah, the sun (so some think), a deified hero of the Phoenicians (so others): he was weary of the golden calves, and thought they had been worshipped long enough; such vanities were they that those who had been fondest of them at length grew sick of them, and, like adulterers, much have variety. In honour of this mock deity, whom they called
Baal -
lord, and for the convenience of his worship, 1. Ahab built a temple in Samaria, the royal city, because the temple of God was in Jerusalem, the royal city of the other kingdom. He would have Baal's temple near him, that he might the better frequent it, protect it, and put honour upon it. 2. He reared an altar in that temple, on which to offer sacrifice to Baal, by which they acknowledged their dependence upon him and sought his favour. O the stupidity of idolaters, who are at a great expense to make one their friend whom they might have chosen whether they would make a god of or no! 3. He made a grove about his temple, either a natural one, by planting shady trees there, or, if those would be too long in growing, an artificial one in imitation of it; for it is not said he
planted, but he
made a grove, something that answered the intention, which was to conceal and so countenance the abominable impurities that were committed in the filthy worship of Baal.
Lucus, lucendo, quia non lucet -
He that doeth evil hateth the light. IV. One of his subjects, in imitation of his presumption, ventured to build Jericho, in defiance of the curse Joshua had long since pronounced on him that should attempt it,
1Kgs 16:34. It comes in as an instance of the height of impiety to which men had arrived, especially at Bethel, where one of the calves was, for of that city this daring sinner was. Observe, 1. How ill he did. Like Achan he meddled with the accursed thing, turned that to his own use which was devoted to God's honour. He began to build, in defiance of the curse well known in Israel, jesting with it perhaps as a bugbear, or fancying its force worn out by length of time, for it was above 500 years since it was pronounced,
Josh 6:26. He went on to build, in defiance of the execution of the curse in part; for, though his eldest son died when he began, yet he would proceed in contempt of God and his wrath revealed from heaven against his ungodliness. 2. How ill he sped. He built for his children, but God wrote him childless; his eldest son died when he began, the youngest when he finished, and all the rest (it is supposed) between. Note, Those whom God curses are cursed indeed; none ever hardened his heart against God and prospered. God keep us back from presumptuous sins, those great transgressions!