he 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?
he 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)