9 His servant Zimri , commander of half his chariots , conspired against him. Now he was at Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza , who was over the household at Tirzah . 10 Then Zimri went in and struck him and put him to death in the twenty-seventh e year of Asa king of Judah , and became king in his place . 11 It came about when he became king , as soon as he sat on his throne , that he killed all the household of Baasha ; he did not leave a single male e , neither of his relatives nor of his friends . 12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha , according to the word of the Lord , which He spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet , 13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son , which they sinned and which they made Israel sin , provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols . 14 Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did , are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel ?
15 In the twenty-seventh e year of Asa king of Judah , Zimri reigned seven days at Tirzah . Now the people were camped against Gibbethon , which belonged to the Philistines . 16 The people who were camped heard it said , "Zimri has conspired and has also struck down the king ." Therefore all Israel made Omri , the commander of the army , king over Israel that day in the camp . 17 Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon and besieged e Tirzah . 18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken , he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire , and died , 19 because of his sins which he sinned , doing evil in the sight of the Lord , walking in the way of Jeroboam , and in his sin which he did , making Israel sin . 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri and his conspiracy which he carried out, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel ?
21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts : half of the people followed e Tibni the son of Ginath , to make him king ; the other half followed Omri . 22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath . And Tibni died and Omri became king .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 16:9-22
Commentary on 1 Kings 16:1-14
(Read 1 Kings 16:1-14)
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.
Commentary on 1 Kings 16:15-28
(Read 1 Kings 16:15-28)
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.