SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 16
The word of the Lord came to Jehu against Baasha saying: “I lifted you up from the dust and made you leader of my people Israel, but you walked in the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to provoke me to anger by their sins. So I am about to consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam. Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha, who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country” (vs. 2-4). Baasha rested with his father and was buried in Tirzah. Elah, his son succeeded him as king.
ELAH -KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 2-14)
Elah reigned Israel for 2 years. Zimri, one of his offficials struck Elah down. Then, Zimri succeeded him as king. When Zimri was on the throne, he killed and destroyed all Baasha’s family.
ZIMRI – KING OF ISAREL (vs. 15-20)
Zimri reigned in Tirizah 7 days. When the Israelites in camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army king over Israel. Then Omri and all Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the royal palace and set fire on it and he died.
OMRI – KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 21-28)
The people of Israel were split into two factions: half supported Tibni for king and the other half supported Omri. Since Omri’s followers were stronger, Tibni died and Omri became king. He reigned for 12 years and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Omri rested with his fathers and Ahab, his son succeeded him as king.
AHAB BECOMES KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 29-34)
Ahab reigned in Samaria over Israel for 22 year. He married Jezebel, daughter of Ethabar- king of Sidon and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in Samaria and made an Asherah pole.
THOUGHTS:
Ahab married Jezebel who worshiped a heathen god. He made Baal worship a popular region in Israel. Baal was the Canaanite storm god and his worship was attractive to a nation that depended so much on rain. Besides, the rituals inside temple prostitution appealed to the basic appetites of the people. By building a temple and an altar to Baal, Ahab was promoting idolatry and leading the entire nation into sin.