Elah Assassinated and Zimri's Usurpation
1 Kings 16:8-14
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1 K.16.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- עשרים: NUM,card,pl
- ושש: CONJ+NUM,card,m,sg
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאסא: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעשא: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בתרצה: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- שנתים: NOUN,f,du,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 16:31 (structural): Immediate continuation of the accession account—after Ahab's installation the narrative records his marriage to Jezebel and his introduction of Baal worship, extending the same regnal-summary framework.
- 1 Kings 21:25 (thematic): Evaluative summary of Ahab's character — 'there was none like Ahab' — which thematically amplifies the significance of his accession recorded in 1 Kgs 16:8.
- 1 Kings 22:40-43 (structural): Later summary of Ahab's reign that repeats key chronological and moral elements (length of reign, sins), functioning as a parallel regnal epitome to the accession notice in 1 Kgs 16:8.
- 2 Chronicles 18:1 (allusion): Describes the political interaction between Ahab and Jehoshaphat after Ahab's rise—links the accession in Israel to its diplomatic consequences with Judah (Asa/Jehoshaphat-era synchronisms).
Alternative generated candidates
- In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel at Tirzah; and he reigned two years.
- In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel at Tirzah; and he reigned two years.
1 K.16.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקשר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- עבדו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- זמרי: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מחצית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הרכב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- בתרצה: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- שתה: VERB,qal,impv,2,sg
- שכור: ADJ,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ארצא: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בתרצה: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 3:27 (thematic): Joab murders Abner amid civil power struggles — an internal, politically motivated killing by a military leader to eliminate a rival.
- 2 Samuel 20:10 (thematic): Joab slays Amasa during Absalom's aftermath — another episode of a commander killing a rival to secure control, similar to Zimri’s act.
- 2 Kings 9:24 (structural): Jehu kills King Joram in the field during a revolt — like Zimri’s assassination, this is a violent coup that brings rapid dynastic change.
- 2 Chronicles 25:27 (thematic): Amaziah is killed by conspirators after political/military failure — parallels the use of assassination by insiders to remove a king.
Alternative generated candidates
- And his servant Zimri, commander of half the chariots, conspired against him. While Elah was in Tirzah, drinking in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the royal household in Tirzah,
- His servant Zimri, commander of half the chariot force, conspired against him. While Elah was in Tirzah, he was drinking in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the household there.
1 K.16.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- זמרי: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויכהו: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- וימיתהו: VERB,hif,impf,3,m,sg,clit:3,m,sg
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- עשרים: NUM,card,pl
- ושבע: NUM,m,sg,abs
- לאסא: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- וימלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 16:9 (verbal): Immediate context: verse 9 gives the same event (Zimri went in, struck and killed Elah and reigned in his stead); closely parallel wording and narrative.
- 1 Kings 15:27-28 (structural): Baasha’s conspiracy against Nadab: a commander/insurgent kills the king and takes the throne—same pattern of palace assassination and usurpation.
- 2 Kings 9:24-26 (thematic): Jehu’s coup: Jehu strikes and kills King Joram (and Ahaziah of Judah) during a violent overthrow; parallels assassination by a military leader who removes the king.
- 2 Chronicles 24:25-26 (thematic): King Joash is conspired against and slain by his own servants; another instance of regicide within the royal household and violent removal of a monarch.
Alternative generated candidates
- Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him—in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah—and Zimri reigned in his place.
- Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him. It was in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and Zimri reigned in his place.
1 K.16.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- במלכו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- כשבתו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- כסאו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- הכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעשא: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- השאיר: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- משתין: PART,piel,ptcp,_,m,sg
- בקיר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגאליו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- ורעהו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 15:29 (verbal): Baasha's destruction of the house of Jeroboam uses the same idiom and formula — 'he left not one that pisseth against a wall' — a near verbal parallel about wiping out a royal house.
- 2 Kings 10:11-14 (verbal): Jehu's slaughter of Ahab's descendants likewise emphasizes total annihilation of a dynasty ('left none to breathe'); thematically and linguistically comparable to Zimri's extermination of Baasha's house.
- 1 Kings 16:18 (structural): Immediate narrative summary in the same chapter: 'Thus did Zimri cut off all the house of Baasha,' a direct reiteration/closure of the event described in 16:11.
- Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (thematic): Law texts commanding the utter destruction of enemy peoples ('leave none alive') provide the broader theological and ideological background for biblical depictions of complete dynastic extermination.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when he had reigned, as he sat upon his throne, he struck down the whole house of Baasha; he left him not one male to continue his line, nor his kinsmen, nor his friends.
- In the course of his reign, as he sat in his house, he struck down the whole house of Baasha; he left him not one who urinates against a wall, neither of his kinsmen nor of his friends.
1 K.16.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- זמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעשא: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- בעשא: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יהוא: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kings 16:11 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same chapter describing Zimri's act of striking and destroying the house of Baasha (same incident/sequence).
- 1 Kings 16:4 (quotation): Earlier prophetic oracle recorded against Baasha 'by Jehu the prophet' that his house would be cut off — the present verse explicitly ties Zimri's deed to that word of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 15:27-30 (thematic): Baasha's earlier slaughter of Nadab and destruction of Jeroboam's house is likewise said to be 'according to the word of the LORD' (by Ahijah), showing a recurrent pattern of prophetically-declared dynastic overthrow.
- 2 Kings 9:7-10 (thematic): Elisha/prophetic commissioning of Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab: a parallel motif of a prophetically-ordained extermination of a royal house to fulfill the word of the LORD.
- 2 Kings 10:11-14 (verbal): Jehu's execution of Ahab's relatives and household to fulfill prophecy — parallels both the violent eradication of a dynasty and the formulaic link to the divine word being fulfilled.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus Zimri exterminated all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD which he had spoken against Baasha by the hand of Jehu the prophet.
- Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken against Baasha by the hand of Jehu the prophet.
1 K.16.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- כל: DET
- חטאות: NOUN,f,pl,const
- בעשא: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וחטאות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- אשר: PRON,rel
- חטאו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- החטיאו: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להכעיס: VERB,hiphil,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בהבליהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
Parallels
- 1 Kings 21:25 (verbal): Speaks of Ahab (like Baasha here) causing Israel to sin and explicitly states he provoked the LORD to anger—shares the same language and theme of a king whose deeds and household lead Israel into sin.
- 2 Kings 17:7-23 (thematic): A summary catalogue of Israel’s sins (idolatry, sacrilege) and the resulting divine wrath and exile—parallels the theme of a ruler/house causing national sin and provoking YHWH’s anger.
- Judges 2:11-15 (thematic): Describes Israel doing evil and serving Baals, provoking the LORD to anger and bringing punishment—similar motif of collective sin provoked by leaders and idols, leading to divine judgment.
- Exodus 32:7-10 (allusion): The golden calf incident: Israel’s idolatry provokes the LORD to wrath. Though earlier in history, it functions as a paradigmatic example of how covenantal infidelity (often encouraged by leaders) incurs God’s anger—an implicit parallel to the provocation language here.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the sins of Baasha and the sins of his son Elah—by which they sinned and led Israel into sin, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, by their vanities.
- Because of all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son—by which they sinned and by which they caused Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel by their vanities—
1 K.16.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הלוא: PART
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- כתובים: VERB,pual,ptcp,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- למלכי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 11:41 (verbal): Same reporting formula about the king's remaining deeds being recorded in an official annal/chronicle — links the narrative to external royal records (Solomon's acts).
- 1 Kings 14:19 (structural): Parallel closing formula for a Judahite king (Rehoboam) that cites the book of the chronicles of the kings (here of Judah), showing the common historiographical device across the books of Kings.
- 1 Chronicles 29:29 (thematic): A comparable statement that the rest of David's acts are written in other records (e.g., the book of Samuel and the seer Nathan), reflecting the same practice of citing royal/prophetic sources for fuller accounts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And 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?
- 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?
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel at Tirzah; and he reigned two years. And his servant Zimri, commander of half the chariots, conspired against him; while he was at Tirzah, drinking in the house of Arza who was over the household at Tirzah.
Then Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah; and Zimri reigned in his place.
When he had reigned and was settled on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha; he left him not one man—neither kinsman nor companion. Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, as the word of the LORD had spoken against Baasha by Jehu the prophet.
Because of all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned and made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger by their vanity.
As for 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?