Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

1 Kings 16

This chapter relates wholly to the kingdom of Israel, and the revolutions of that kingdom—many in a little time. The utter ruin of Jeroboam’s family, after it had been twenty-four years a royal family, we read of in the foregoing chapter. In this chapter we have, I. The ruin of Baasha’s family, after it had been but twenty-six years a royal family, foretold by a prophet (1 Kings 16:1-16:7), and executed by Zimri, one of his captains, 1 Kings 16:8-16:14. II. The seven days’ reign of Zimri, and his sudden fall, 1 Kings 16:15-16:20. III. The struggle between Omri and Tibni, and Omri’s prevalency, and his reign, 1 Kings 16:21-16:28. IV. The beginning of the reign of Ahab, of whom we shall afterwards read much, 1 Kings 16:29-16:32. V. The rebuilding of Jericho, 1 Kings 16:34. All this while, in Judah, things went well. MHBCC 308.1