Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
1 Kings 16
Concise Complete
The reigns of Baasha and Elah in Israel. (1-14) Reigns
of Zimri and Omri in Israel. (15-28) Ahab's wickedness, Hiel rebuilds Jericho.
(29-34)
Verses 1-14 This
chapter relates wholly to the kingdom of Israel, and the revolutions of that
kingdom. God calls Israel his people still, though wretchedly corrupted. Jehu
foretells the same destruction to come upon Baasha's family, which that king had
been employed to bring upon the family of Jeroboam. Those who resemble others in
their sins, may expect to resemble them in the plagues they suffer, especially
those who seem zealous against such sins in others as they allow in themselves.
Baasha himself dies in peace, and is buried with honour. Herein plainly appears
that there are punishments after death, which are most to be dreaded. Let Elah
be a warning to drunkards, who know not but death may surprise them. Death
easily comes upon men when they are drunk. Besides the diseases which men bring
themselves into by drinking, when in that state, men are easily overcome by an
enemy, and liable to bad accidents. Death comes terribly upon men in such a
state, finding them in the act of sin, and unfitted for any act of devotion;
that day comes upon them unawares. The word of God was fulfilled, and the sins
of Baasha and Elah were reckoned for, with which they provoked God. Their idols
are called their vanities, for idols cannot profit nor help; miserable are those
whose gods are vanities.
Verses 15-28
When men forsake God, they will be left to plague one another. Proud aspiring
men ruin one another. Omri struggled with Tibni some years. Though we do not
always understand the rules by which God governs nations and individuals in his
providence, we may learn useful lessons from the history before us. When tyrants
succeed each other, and massacres, conspiracies, and civil wars, we may be sure
the Lord has a controversy with the people for their sins; they are loudly
called to repent and reform. Omri made himself infamous by his wickedness. Many
wicked men have been men of might and renown; have built cities, and their names
are found in history; but they have no name in the book of life.
Verses 29-34
Ahab did evil above all that reigned before him, and did it with a particular
enmity both against Jehovah and Israel. He was not satisfied with breaking the
second commandment by image-worship, he broke the first by worshipping other
gods: making light of lesser sins makes way for greater. Marriages with daring
offenders also imbolden in wickedness, and hurry men on to the greatest
excesses. One of Ahab's subjects, following the example of his presumption,
ventured to build Jericho. 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 devoted to God's honour: he began to build,
in defiance of the curse well known in Israel; but none ever hardened his heart
against God, and prospered. Let the reading of this chapter cause us to mark the
dreadful end of all the workers of iniquity. And what does the history of all
ungodly men furnish, what ever rank or situation they move in, but sad examples
of the same?
Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2 Samuel 2 Kings
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
