1 Kings 16:8-14

1 Kings 16:8-14

[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.  [9] And his servant  Zimri,  captain  of half  his chariots,  conspired  against him, as he was in Tirzah,  drinking  himself drunk  in the house  of Arza  steward of his house  in Tirzah.  [10] And Zimri  went in  and smote  him, and killed  him, in the twenty  and seventh  year  of Asa  king  of Judah,  and reigned  [11] And it came to pass, when he began to reign,  as soon as he sat  on his throne,  that he slew  all the house  of Baasha:  he left  him not one that pisseth  against a wall,  neither of his kinsfolks,  nor of his friends.  [12] Thus did Zimri  destroy  all the house  of Baasha,  according to the word  which he spake  against Baasha  by  Jehu  the prophet,  [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,  in provoking the LORD  God  of Israel  to anger  with their vanities.  [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? 

What does 1 Kings 16:8-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The dynasties that Jeroboam and Baasha established were alike in several respects. Both were only two generations long. The first king in each dynasty reigned for a fairly long time: Jeroboam22years and Baasha24. Assassins who were apparently confidants the kings trusted terminated both dynasties. Each assassin not only killed the king but also all his male descendants, as was customary. Perhaps the most significant difference is that Baasha, the first assassin, successfully established his own dynasty and ruled for many years. The second, Zimri, could not do so. He committed suicide seven days after he became king.
Elah reigned from886-885 B.C. His assassin, Zimri, was one of his chariot commanders. As the prophet had foretold ( 1 Kings 16:3), Baasha"s dynasty ended with Elah"s death ( 1 Kings 16:11).