1A k Jéhúovi, synu Chanáního, se dostalo slovo Hospodinovo proti Baešovi výrokem: 2Protože jsem tě vyvýšil z prachu a dosadil jsem tě za panovníka nad mým lidem, Isráélem, ale jal ses chodit cestou Jároveámovou a svádět můj lid, Isráéle, k hřešení, k dráždění mě jejich hříchy, 3hle, já - chystám se vymést za Baešou a za jeho domem a chci se vzdát tvého domu jako domu Jároveáma, syna Nevátova; 4toho, jenž umře Baešovi ve městě, budou žrát psi, a toho, jenž mu umře v poli, bude žrát ptactvo nebes. 5A ostatní věci Baešovy a vše, co vykonal, a jeho hrdinství, - zda ony nejsou vypsány na knize letopisů králů Isráélových? 6I ulehl Baešá se svými otci a byl pohřben v Tirce. A kralování se místo něho ujal Élá, jeho syn. 7I k Baešovi a k jeho domu se tedy, skrze Jéhúa, syna Chanáního, proroka, dostalo slovo Hospodinovo, totiž stran všeho zla, jež v očích Hospodinových napáchal k dráždění ho působením svých rukou, aby byl jako dům Jároveámův - vlastně stran toho, zač jej pobil. 8Élá, syn Baešův, se v roce dvaceti a šesti let Ásy, krále Júdova, ujal kralování nad Isráélem v Tirce na dvě léta. 9A spikl se proti němu jeho služebník Zimrí, velitel poloviny vozů, když on v Tirce pil, - byl opojen, - v domě Arcy, jenž byl nad domem v Tirce; 10tu Zimrí vstoupil a skolil ho a usmrtil ho, v dvacátém a sedmém roce Ásy, krále Júdova, a ujal se kralování místo něho. 11A při započetí jeho kralování, jak usedl na svůj trůn, se stalo, že všechen dům Baešův pobil, nezanechal mu močícího na stěnu, ani jeho příbuzných ani jeho přátel. 12Tak Zimrí vymýtil všechen Baešův dům podle slova Hospodinova, jež vyslovil k Baešovi skrze Jéhúa, proroka, 13stran všech hříchů Baešových a hříchů Ély, jeho syna, jimiž zhřešili a jimiž k hřešení svedli Isráéle k dráždění Hospodina, Isráélova Boha, svými nicotnostmi. 14A ostatní věci Élovy a vše, co vykonal, - zda ony nejsou vypsány na knize letopisů králů Isráélových? 15Zimrí se v roce dvaceti a sedmi let Ásy, krále Júdova, ujal kralování v Tirce na sedm dní. Tehdy tábořili - lid - před Gibbethónem, jenž patřil Pelištím, 16a lid - ti tábořící - uslyšel výrok: Zimrí se spikl a dokonce skolil krále. V onen den tedy v táboře uvedli - všechen Isráél - v kralování nad Isráélem Omrího, velitele vojska; 17a Omrí, a s ním všechen Isráél, odtáhl od Gibbethónu, i zahájili obléhání proti Tirce; 18a jak Zimrí shledal, že města je dobyto, vstoupil do věže králova domu a ohněm zapálil králův dům nad sebou a umřel 19za své hříchy, jimiž zhřešil pácháním toho, co bylo v očích Hospodinových zlé, chozením cestou Jároveámovou, ano, ve svém hříchu, jejž páchal k svádění Isráéle k hřešení. 20A ostatní věci Zimrího a jeho spiknutí, jímž se spikl, - zda ony nejsou vypsány na knize letopisů králů Isráélových? 21Tehdy se lid Isráélův dělil napůl: Polovina lidu se dala za Tivním, synem Gínathovým, k uvedení ho v kralování, a polovina za Omrím; 22ale lid, jenž následoval Omrího, přemohl lid, jenž následoval Tivního, syna Gínathova. A Tivní umřel a kralování se ujal Omrí. 23Omrí se kralování nad Isráélem ujal v roce třiceti a jednoho roku Ásy, krále Júdova, na dvanáct let; šest let kraloval v Tirce, 24potom od Šemera za dva kikkáry stříbra koupil horu Šómrón a opevnil tu horu a jméno města, jež zbudoval, nazval Šómrón podle jména Šemera, majitele té hory. 25A Omrí se jal činit, co bylo zlé v očích Hospodinových, a počínat si hůře než všichni, kdo byli před ním, 26a jal se chodit vší cestou Jároveáma, syna Nevátova, a v jeho hříchu, jímž k hřešení svedl Isráéle k dráždění Hospodina, Isráélova Boha, jejich nicotnostmi. 27A ostatní věci Omrího, co vykonal, a jeho hrdinství, jež projevil, - zda ony nejsou vypsány na knize letopisů králů Isráélových? 28I ulehl Omrí se svými otci a byl pohřben v Šómrónu. A kralování se místo něho ujal Acheáv, jeho syn. 29Ujal se tedy Acheáv, syn Omrího, kralování nad Isráélem v roce třiceti a osmi let Ásy, krále Júdova, a kraloval Acheáv, syn Omrího, nad Isráélem v Šómrónu dvacet a dvě léta, 30a jal se Acheáv, syn Omrího, činit, co bylo zlé v očích Hospodinových, nade všechny, kdo byli před ním, 31ba stalo se, - zda bylo příliš málo na jeho chození v hříších Jároveáma, syna Nevátova? - že za ženu pojal Ízevel, dceru Ethbaala, krále Cídóním, a odebral se a jal se sloužit Baalovi a klanět se mu 32a postavil Baalovi oltář v domě Baalově, jejž zbudoval v Šómrónu; 33a zřídil Acheáv ašéru - vůbec učinil více k dráždění Hospodina, Isráélova Boha, než všichni králové Isráélovi, kteří byli před ním. 34V jeho dnech Chíél, Béth-Élí, zbudoval Jeríchó; založil je za Avíráma, svého prvorozeného, a jeho vrata nasadil za Segúva, svého nejmladšího, podle slova Hospodinova, jež vyslovil skrze Jóšuu, syna Núnova.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 JEHU'S PROPHECY AGAINST BAASHA. (
1Kgs 16:1-8)
Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu--This is the only incident recorded in the life of this prophet. His father was also a prophet (
2Chr 16:7).
2 Forasmuch as I exalted thee--The doom he pronounced on Baasha was exactly the same as denounced against Jeroboam and his posterity. Though he had waded through slaughter to his throne, he owed his elevation to the appointment or permission of Him "by whom kings reign."
over my people Israel--With all their errors and lapses into idolatry, they were not wholly abandoned by God. He still showed His interest in them by sending prophets and working miracles in their favor, and possessed a multitude of faithful worshippers in the kingdom of Israel.
7 also by the hand of the prophet Jehu--This is not another prophecy, but merely an addition by the sacred historian, explanatory of the death of Baasha and the extinction of his family. The doom pronounced against Jeroboam (
1Kgs 14:9), did not entitle him to take the execution of the sentence into his own hands; but from his following the same calf-worship, he had evidently plotted the conspiracy and murder of that king in furtherance of his own ambitious designs; and hence, in his own assassination, he met the just reward of his deeds. The similitude to Jeroboam extends to their deaths as well as their lives--the reign of their sons, and the ruin of their families.
8 began Elah the son of Baasha to reign--(compare
1Kgs 15:33). From this it will appear that Baasha died in the twenty-third year of his reign (see on
1Kgs 15:2), and Elah, who was a prince of dissolute habits, reigned not fully two years.
9 ZIMRI'S CONSPIRACY. (
1Kgs 16:9-22)
Zimri . . . conspired against him--"Arza which was over his house." During a carousal in the house of his chamberlain, Zimri slew him, and having seized the sovereignty, endeavored to consolidate his throne by the massacre of all the royal race.
15 did Zimri reign seven days--The news of his conspiracy soon spread, and the army having proclaimed their general, Omri, king, that officer immediately raised the siege at Gibbethon and marched directly against the capital in which the usurper had established himself. Zimri soon saw that he was not in circumstances to hold out against all the forces of the kingdom; so, shutting himself up in the palace, he set it on fire, and, like Sardanapalus, chose to perish himself and reduce all to ruin, rather than that the palace and royal treasures should fall into the hands of his successful rival. The seven days' reign may refer either to the brief duration of his royal authority, or the period in which he enjoyed unmolested tranquillity in the palace.
19 For his sins which he sinned--This violent end was a just retribution for his crimes. "His walking in the ways of Jeroboam" might have been manifested either by the previous course of his life, or by his decrees published on his ascension, when he made a strong effort to gain popularity by announcing his continued support of the calf worship.
21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts--The factions that ensued occasioned a four years' duration (compare
1Kgs 16:15 with
1Kgs 16:23), of anarchy or civil war. Whatever might be the public opinion of Omri's merits a large body of the people disapproved of the mode of his election, and declared for Tibni. The army, however, as usual in such circumstances (and they had the will of Providence favoring them), prevailed over all opposition, and Omri became undisputed possessor of the throne.
22 Tibni died--The Hebrew does not enable us to determine whether his death was violent or natural.
23 OMRI BUILDS SAMARIA. (
1Kgs 16:23-28)
In the thirty and first year of Asa . . . began Omri to reign--The twelve years of his reign are computed from the beginning of his reign, which was in the twenty-seventh year of Asa's reign. He held a contested reign for four years with Tibni; and then, at the date stated in this verse, entered on a sole and peaceful reign of eight years.
24 he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer--The palace of Tirzah being in ruins, Omri, in selecting the site of his royal residence, was naturally influenced by considerations both of pleasure and advantage. In the center of a wide amphitheatre of mountains, about six miles from Shechem, rises an oblong hill with steep, yet accessible sides, and a long flat top extending east and west, and rising five hundred or six hundred feet above the valley. What Omri in all probability built as a mere palatial residence, became the capital of the kingdom instead of Shechem. It was as though Versailles had taken the place of Paris, or Windsor of London. The choice of Omri was admirable, in selecting a position which combined in a union not elsewhere found in Palestine: strength, beauty, and fertility [STANLEY].
two talents of silver--Ł684. Shemer had probably made it a condition of the sale, that the name should be retained. But as city and palace were built there by Omri, it was in accordance with Eastern custom to call it after the founder. The Assyrians did so, and on a tablet dug out of the ruins of Nineveh, an inscription was found relating to Samaria, which is called Beth-khumri--the house of Omri [LAYARD]. (See
2Kgs 17:5).
25 But Omri wrought evil--The character of Omri's reign and his death are described in the stereotyped form used towards all the successors of Jeroboam in respect both to policy as well as time.
29 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him--The worship of God by symbols had hitherto been the offensive form of apostasy in Israel, but now gross idolatry is openly patronized by the court. This was done through the influence of Jezebel, Ahab's queen. She was "the daughter of Eth-baal, king of the Zidonians." He was priest of Ashtaroth or Astarte, who, having murdered Philetes, king of Tyre, ascended the throne of that kingdom, being the eighth king since Hiram. Jezebel was the wicked daughter of this regicide and idol priest--and, on her marriage with Ahab, never rested till she had got all the forms of her native Tyrian worship introduced into her adopted country.
32 reared up an altar for Baal--that is, the sun, worshipped under various images. Ahab set up one (
2Kgs 3:2), probably as the Tyrian Hercules, in the temple in Samaria. No human sacrifices were offered--the fire was kept constantly burning --the priests officiated barefoot. Dancing and kissing the image (
1Kgs 19:18) were among the principal rites.
34 JOSHUA'S CURSE FULFILLED UPON HIEL THE BUILDER OF JERICHO. (
1Kgs 16:34)
In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho--(see on
Josh 6:26). The curse took effect on the family of this reckless man but whether his oldest son died at the time of laying the foundation, and the youngest at the completion of the work, or whether he lost all his sons in rapid succession, till, at the end of the undertaking, he found himself childless, the poetical form of the ban does not enable us to determine. Some modern commentators think there is no reference either to the natural or violent deaths of Hiel's sons; but that he began in presence of his oldest son, but some unexpected difficulties, losses, or obstacles, delayed the completion till his old age, when the gates were set up in the presence of his youngest son. But the curse was fulfilled more than five hundred years after it was uttered; and from Jericho being inhabited after Joshua's time (
Judg 3:13;
2Sam 10:5), it has been supposed that the act against which the curse was directed, was an attempt at the restoration of the walls--the very walls which had been miraculously cast down. It seems to have been within the territory of Israel; and the unresisted act of Hiel affords a painful evidence how far the people of Israel had lost all knowledge of, or respect for, the word of God.