📖 1 Kings — Chapter 16 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 Kings 16:1 Then the word of the LORD came to RJehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
1 Kings 16:2 Forasmuch as RI exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
1 Kings 16:3 Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and Rwill make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
1 Kings 16:4 Him that dieth of Baasha in the city Rshall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
1 Kings 16:5 Now Rthe 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?
1 Kings 16:6 So RBaasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 16:7 And also by Rthe hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
1 Kings 16:8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
1 Kings 16:9 And Rhis servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza Tsteward of his house in Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:10 And RZimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 16:11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that Rhe slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, Tneither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
1 Kings 16:12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha RTby Jehu the prophet.
1 Kings 16:13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, Rin provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
1 Kings 16:14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign Rseven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
1 Kings 16:16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made ROmri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
1 Kings 16:17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they Rbesieged Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died.
1 Kings 16:19 For his sins which he sinned Rin doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
1 Kings 16:20 Now Rthe rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
1 Kings 16:21 Then were the people of Israel Rdivided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
1 Kings 16:22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
1 Kings 16:23 In Rthe thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called Rthe name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, TSamaria.
1 Kings 16:25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and Rdid worse than all that were before him.
1 Kings 16:26 For Rhe walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
1 Kings 16:27 Now Rthe rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
1 Kings 16:28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 16:29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
1 Kings 16:30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD Rabove all that were before him.
1 Kings 16:31 And it came to pass, RTas if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
1 Kings 16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in Rthe house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
1 Kings 16:33 And Ahab Rmade a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
1 Kings 16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 16:1–14 — Baasha’s house receives judgment
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jehu son of Hanani announces judgment against Baasha for leading Israel into sin. Elah succeeds him, but Zimri kills Elah and destroys the household. The violent succession fulfills the announced outcome without making the killers’ own conduct righteous.
Key Truth: Being involved in an outcome does not exempt anyone from accountability.
Check What You Remember
1. Which prophet spoke against Baasha? (1 Kings 16:1)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:1 (KJV).
2. Who succeeded Baasha? (1 Kings 16:6)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:6 (KJV).
3. Who killed Elah? (1 Kings 16:10)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 16:15–28 — Zimri’s brief rule and Omri’s kingdom
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Zimri’s reign lasts seven days before Omri’s army takes Tirzah. Zimri burns the palace over himself and dies, a tragedy the account does not commend. A struggle with Tibni ends with Omri ruling. He establishes Samaria but exceeds earlier kings in evil. A durable capital and political victory are not measures of righteousness.
Key Truth: Judge leadership by faithfulness, not merely survival or construction.
Check What You Remember
1. How many days did Zimri reign? (1 Kings 16:15)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:15 (KJV).
2. Who was made king by the army? (1 Kings 16:16)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:16 (KJV).
3. What city did Omri build on the purchased hill? (1 Kings 16:24)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:24 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Kings 16:29–34 — Ahab and the spread of Baal worship
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ahab succeeds Omri, marries Jezebel, and serves Baal, provoking the LORD more than earlier kings. The account also records Hiel rebuilding Jericho at the cost associated with Joshua’s earlier warning. Political continuity has brought deeper rebellion rather than faithful renewal.
Key Truth: Do not treat established habits of sin as harmless.
Check What You Remember
1. Who succeeded Omri? (1 Kings 16:29)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:29 (KJV).
2. Whom did Ahab marry? (1 Kings 16:31)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:31 (KJV).
3. Who rebuilt Jericho? (1 Kings 16:34)
Find it in 1 Kings 16:34 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Joshua 6:26 — Joshua’s earlier warning is recalled in the account of Jericho’s rebuilding.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What entrenched habit could become worse if left unchallenged? Consider how God’s word should shape your judgment of what seems normal or successful.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the word against Baasha compare his opportunity with his conduct?
2. How does Elah’s condition at the moment of the conspiracy affect the scene?
3. What limits Zimri’s reign so sharply?
4. How does Omri’s rule emerge from the split among the people?
5. How does Ahab intensify the earlier pattern of sin?
Notes
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