1 Kings 16

1 Kings, chapter 16 1 Kings 16 1 Kings 15 chapter 15 1 Kings 17 chapter 17 First book of Kings Old Testament 11 Nevi'im 4 Former Prophets Leningrad-codex-09-kings.pdf 250px The pages containing the Books of Kings (1 & 2 Kings) Leningrad Codex (1008 CE). 1 Kings 16 is the sixteenth chapter of the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible or the First Book of Kings in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Halley 1965 191Collins 2014 288 The book is a compilation of various annals recording the acts of the kings of Israel and Judah by a Deuteronomic compiler in the seventh century BCE, with a supplement added in the sixth century BCE.McKane 1993 324 1 Kings 12:1-16:14 documents the consolidation of the kingdoms of northern Israel and Judah.Dietrich 2007 241 This chapter focusses on the reigns of Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri and Ahab in the northern kingdom during the reign of Asa in the southern kingdom.Dietrich 2007 242–243 Text This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language and since the 16th century is divided into 34 verses. Textual witnesses Textual variants in the Hebrew Bible#1 Kings 16 Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).Würthwein 1995 35-37 There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; B; 4th century) and Codex Alexandrinus (A; A; 5th century).Würthwein 1995 73-74The whole book of 1 Kings is missing from the extant Codex Sinaiticus.Codex Sinaiticus A long addition is found in the Septuagint of Codex Vaticanus following 1 Kings 16:28 (numbered as verses 28a–28h).Tov 1999 549 End of reign of Baasha, the king of Israel (16:1–7) Baasha was 'walking in the way of Jeroboam', left the bull cult of Bethel (and Dan) intact, although he had eliminated the Jeroboam dynasty, so a prophet, Jehu ben Hanani, confronted him and gave him a warning and a scolding (verses 2–4) very similar to that of Ahijah of Shiloh (1 Kings 14:7–11), resulting in parallels of fates befallen Baasha's and Jeroboam's dynasties.Dietrich 2007 244Coogan 2007 519 Hebrew Bible Elah, the king of Israel (16:8–14) As happened with Jeroboam, the end of dynasty befell not during the reign of the founder of the dynasty, but of his son, very soon after his accession. Baasha's dynasty was eliminated on the second year of Elah, the son of Baasha, lasting no longer than Nadab, the son of Jeroboam.Dietrich 2007 244Coogan 2007 519 Hebrew Bible The assassin was Zimri a high-ranking officer, "commander of half the chariot troop" (a military form used in Israel since the time of Solomon, cf. 1 Kings 5:6,10:26; another officer of a chariot troop, Jehu, later also led a coup as recorded in 2 Kings 9).Dietrich 2007 244 Zimri's butchery included not only Baasha's family but also family friends (verse 11).Coogan 2007 519–520 Hebrew Bible Verse 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.1 Kings 16:8 KJV KJV "26th year of Asa...reign...two years": in Thiele's chronology (improved by McFall), Elah became king between September 886 and April 885 BCE and died between September 885 and April 884 BCE (his age was omitted).McFall 1991 no. 12 Verse 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?1 Kings 16:14 KJV KJV Zimri, the king of Israel (16:15–20) Zimri was 'the most spectacularly unsuccessful king of all' rulers in Israel and Judah as his suicide ended his seven-day reign.Coogan 2007 520 Hebrew Bible While still in war with the Philistines, the Israel army resented the coup in its capital, and as a chariot officer, Zimri likely 'represented the urban, Canaanite elements of the state too strongly for the army to tolerate', because it was dominated by more Israelite, tribal forces.Dietrich 2007 244 Verse 15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.1 Kings 16:15 MEV MEV "27th year of Asa": in Thiele's chronology (improved by McFall), Zimri became king for 7 days until his death between September 885 and April 884 BCE (his age was omitted).McFall 1991 no. 13, 14 Omri, the king of Israel (16:21–28) right|200px|thumb|Ruins of the city of Samaria (1925) The displeased army didn't recognize Zimri, as king, but instead, spontaneously hailed the army chief Omri as their leader to immediately marched and quickly seized the royal residence in Tirzah. Zimri set the citadel alight himself and died in the fire.Dietrich 2007 244 Omri did not automatically become the sole ruler of Israel, because a certain Tibni was chosen as king by half of the people until his death four years later (cf the dates in 1 Kings 16:15 and 16:23).Dietrich 2007 244–245 Omri's name was not of Israelite, but might be of Arabian origin; perhaps he worked his way to be an army general and then a head of state because of his 'unusually charismatic personality'.Dietrich 2007 245 He founded a dynasty in northern Israel with great significance to the political development of the country, as possibly becoming the only true state at that time.Dietrich 2007 244 Archaeological studies have discovered a great amount of building from the period of this dynasty (the ninth century BCE) across the entire land: city walls and fortifications, administration centres etc., whereas non-biblical sources from Assyria, Aram, and Moab indicate 'reluctant respect' for the power and influence of Israel at the time of Omri's dynasty (Assyrian records refer to Israel as "the land of the house of Omri").Dietrich 2007 244Coogan 2007 520 Hebrew Bible By establishing a new capital city belonging to the crown, as David had done before him (cf. 2 Samuel 5), Omri's kingdom achieved a stability.Dietrich 2007 245 Samaria (later Sebaste) was geopolitically and strategically well situated and could be built without taking larger, existing structures into account.Dietrich 2007 245 It was equipped with a generous acropolis (about 180 x 90 meter in Omri's time to about 200 x 100 meter in Ahab's time), and created an opulent city in all respects (cf. Isaiah 28:1), which served as the royal residence of the Israelites until the destruction of the state.Dietrich 2007 245 However, the kingdom became further away from Yahweh, so the prophets were increasingly brought to the foreground, especially Elijah and Elisha, who, despite being always loyal to Yahweh, became 'necessary counterparts' to and sometimes advisors of the Israelite kings, while setting the standards of what is important and right in Israel.Dietrich 2007 244 Verse 23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.1 Kings 16:23 KJV KJV "31th year of Asa...reign...12 years": in Thiele's chronology (improved by McFall), Omri began to rule in a shared government of Israel with his rival, Tibni, between September 885 and April 884 BCE. Omri became sole ruler of Israel after the death of Tibni, which was between April and September 880 BCE, until his death between September 874 and April 873 BCE (his age was omitted).McFall 1991 no. 15 Verse 24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.1 Kings 16:24 KJV KJV "Two talents of silver": about 150 lb;Note on 1 Kings 16:24 in MEV a talent is about 75 lb.Note on 1 Kings 16:24 in ESV "Samaria": Hebrew: he שֹׁמְרֽוֹן Shomeron H 8111.Note on 1 Kings 16:24 in NKJV1 Kings 16:24 Hebrew Text Analysis. Biblehub Ahab, the king of Israel (16:29–34) thumb|right|200px|Kurkh stele of Shalmaneser III. The cuneiform inscription on the back mentions that "Ahab of Israel" was involved in the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BCE. Ahab was considered as 'evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him', especially as he married the Phoenician princess Jezebel, built a temple for Baal (the classic Canaanite fertility god, responsible for nature's rebirth) in Samaria, and erected a cult symbol for the goddess Asherah (the mother goddess of the Canaanite pantheon who stands at El's, Baal's, or even Yahweh's side, presumably symbolized by some wooden object such as a stylized tree).Dietrich 2007 245 These could be the signs of Phoenician influence (cf. Jezebel's father's name: Ethbaal), although Ahab's action 'must have been driven by the need to appease the religious influence of Israel's urban Canaanite population', because Bethel and Dan were mainly Israelite Yahweh-worshipping sites (cf. 1 Kings 12:25–30).Dietrich 2007 245 Archaeological studies discovered the 9th-century establishment in Jericho. Two sons of Hiel, who was responsible for the construction of Jericho, died during the building of it (they were not ritually killed), and this event was interpreted as an example of God's unambiguous word in form of Joshua's (prophetic) curse upon Jericho (Joshua 6:26).Dietrich 2007 245 Verse 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.1 Kings 16:29 ESV ESV "38th year of Asa...reigned over Israel... 22 years": in Thiele's chronology (improved by McFall), Ahab became king between September 874 and April 873 BCE and died between April and September 853 BCE.McFall 1991 no. 16 According to Thiele the Battle of Qarqar was fought in July/August 853 BCEThiele 1951, p. 95 n. 13 as the annals of Shalmaneser III recorded (in "Shalmaneser III Stela") his fighting at Qarqar in his sixth year (853 BCE)Histoire des Empires de Chaldée et d'Assyrie, Julius Oppert, 1865, p.140, "La grande importance de ce texte réside dans la citation du roi célèbre par son impiété, et du nom d'Israël. On se souvient que le roi d'Assyrie cite juste sur l'obélisque, parmi ses tributaires, Jéhu, l'un des successeurs d'Achab, et contemporain de Hazaël qui paraît pour la première fois à la 18e campagne, tandis qu'à la 14e nous lisons encore le nom de son prédécesseur Benhadad." and in his 18th year (841 BCE) he received tribute from Jehu (in "Black Obelisk"), so these 12 years accord exactly with Hebrew chronology and put the battle of Qarqar in Ahab's last year of reign and Jehu gave tribute to Shalmaneser in his first year.Thiele 1951, pp. 95, 104 Verse 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.1 Kings 16:34 ESV ESV "In his days": that is, "during Ahab’s reign".Note [a] on 1 Kings 16:34 in NET Bible In Joshua 6:26 it is written that Joshua pronounces a curse to anyone who dares to rebuild Jericho, which is grimly fulfilled in this verse, so the curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by Yahweh through Joshua.Note [d] on 1 Kings 16:34 in NET Bible See also 22em Chronicles of the Kings of Israel Chronicles of the Kings of Judah David Gibbethon Idolatry Israel Jericho Jeroboam Jerusalem Kingdom of Judah Nadab, king of Israel Prophet Samaria Solomon's Temple Tibni Tirzah Related Bible parts: Joshua 6, 1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 17 Notes References Sources Collins John J. Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures Chapter 14: 1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25 277–296 Fortress Press 2014 https://books.google.com/books?id=fbsoBAAAQBAJ 978-1451469233 Coogan Michael David Michael D. Coogan The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 Coogan Michael David Marc Zvi Brettler Carol Ann Newsom Pheme Perkins Augmented 3rd Oxford University Press 2007 978-0195288810 https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ Dietrich Walter 13. 1 and 2 Kings The Oxford Bible Commentary John Barton John Barton (theologian) John Muddiman John Muddiman Oxford University Press first (paperback) 2007 232–266 978-0199277186 https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ February 6, 2019 Halley Henry H. Henry Hampton Halley Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary 24th (revised) Zondervan Publishing House 1965 https://archive.org/details/halleysbiblehand00henr registration 0-310-25720-4 Hayes Christine Introduction to the Bible Yale University Press 2015 https://books.google.com/books?id=SKbkXYHxvlAC 978-0300188271 Leithart Peter J. 1 & 2 Kings Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible Brazos Press 2006 https://books.google.com/books?id=Z_gvin9G7LgC 978-1587431258 http://www.btinternet.com/~lmf12/TransGuide.pdf Leslie McFall Translation Guide to the Chronological Data in Kings and Chronicles Bibliotheca Sacra 148 1991 3–45 https://web.archive.org/web/20100827065339/http://www.btinternet.com/%7Elmf12/TransGuide.pdf dead 2010-08-27 McKane William Kings, Book of Metzger Bruce M Bruce M. Metzger Coogan Michael D The Oxford Companion to the Bible https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458 registration Oxford University Press 1993 409–413 978-0195046458 Metzger Bruce M Bruce M. Metzger Coogan Michael D The Oxford Companion to the Bible Oxford University Press 1993 978-0195046458 Thiele, Edwin R., The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, (1st ed.; New York: Macmillan, 1951; 2d ed.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965; 3rd ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan/Kregel, 1983). 9780825438257 Tov Emanuel 38. The Septuagint Additions (‘Miscellanies’) in 1 Kings 2 (3 Reigns 2) The Greek and Hebrew Bible: Collected Essays on the Septuagint Vetus Testamentum Supplements 72 Leiden Brill 1999 549–573 10.1163/9789004275973_039 978-90-04-27597-3 https://brill.com/view/book/9789004275973/B9789004275973-s039.xml Würthwein Ernst Ernst Würthwein The Text of the Old Testament Wm. B. Eerdmans Grand Rapids, MI 1995 Erroll F. Rhodes 0-8028-0788-7 https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC January 26, 2019 External links Jewish translations: Melachim I - I Kings - Chapter 16 (Judaica Press). Hebrew text and English translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org Christian translations: Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English) 1 Kings chapter 16. Bible Gateway 16 Category:Phoenicians in the Hebrew Bible Category:Omrides Category:Jezebel