Jehu’s Prophecy against Baasha
1 The word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 “Because I exalted you out of the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, 3 I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat:
4 Those who belong to Baasha who die in the city,
the dogs will eat,
and those of his who die in the field,
the birds of the sky will eat.”
5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6 Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place.
7 Moreover the word of the Lord came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam and because he killed them.
Elah Reigns in Israel
8 In the 26th year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years. 9 His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, 10 and Zimri went in and struck him and killed him, in the 27th year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
11 When he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, he attacked the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave a single male among his relatives or his friends.
12 Thus Zimri destroyed the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet 13 for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they committed, and with which they caused Israel to sin, provoking the Lord, the 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?
Zimri Reigns in Israel
15 In the 27th year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16 The people who were encamped heard that Zimri had colluded and also killed the king. Therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortified part of the king’s house and burned down the king’s house over him and died, 19 for his sins which he committed in doing that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he did, causing Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the treason that he committed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Omri Reigns in Israel
21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath, so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. 23 In the 31th year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for 150 pounds of silver, and he built on the hill and named the city which he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
25 Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins which he caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord, the God of Israel to anger with their vanities. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 28 So Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
Ahab Reigns in Israel, Marries Jezebel
29 In the 38th year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. 30 Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, above all that were before him.
31 As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians and went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 He raised up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab made the Asherah, and Ahab did more yet to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. He laid its foundation with the loss of Abiram his firstborn and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.