1 Kings 16:12, commentary and pictures

This verse belongs to the record of the kings of Israel after the division of Solomon's kingdom into Judah and Israel, part of the history of the separate kingdoms whose northern kingdom was later obliterated. That history of the separate kingdoms covers about eighty years from the revolt of the ten tribes to the death of Jehoshaphat and the reigns of several kings. Within it Zimri stands in succession with Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Omri and Ahab, contemporary with Abijah and Asa in Judah and with Elijah, during continuing war and strife between the two divisions.

The account shows the apostasy of Israel in which her kings led the nation to forsake the worship of the living God and the God-given plan of worship pointing to Christ and salvation from sin, for the impure, untrue and degrading worship of idols and of Baal and Ashtoreth, the worship of the creature instead of the Creator. The chapter gives the setting for Elijah's ministry under the weak king Ahab and his Baal-worshiping wife Jezebel, when nearly the whole nation had turned from God's commandments. It marks a gradual going from bad to worse among the wicked kings of Israel during the long good reign of Asa king of Judah.

Baasha had taken the throne by slaying Nadab and ending the house of Jeroboam and then reigned twenty-four years, but he followed in the way of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin, so Jehu the prophet predicted for Baasha and his house the same end that befell the house of Jeroboam. That word of the LORD was fulfilled when Zimri, Elah's captain, murdered King Elah, Baasha's son, who like Nadab son of Jeroboam reigned only two years in drunkenness and met death by violent hands while drunk, and on taking the throne destroyed the entire house of Baasha to remove any rival to his rule. Zimri himself held power only seven days before Omri defeated him and he died by his own hand, and from Omri sprang the wicked Ahab.