Explanation: 1 Kings 16 describes the reigns of six Kings of Israel who ruled during the reign of Asa King of Judah. In all, the forty-one year reign of Asa overlapped eight Kings of Israel (in whole or in part), as can be seen from the following chart: [Kings of Judah and Israel Chart]. These kings, and most, if not all, of the kings of Judah and Israel, had one common, fatal flaw -- idolatry.
     Baasha. The LORD, speaking through the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani, rebuked Baasha for walking in the way of Jeroboam. As punishment, he would suffer the doom of Jeroboam -- his family members would be eaten by dogs and birds (1-4).
     Baasha died; and his son Elah reigned in his stead. Baasha's condemnation came because of his evil life and because he murdered Jeroboam (5-7).
     Elah. Two years after Elah came to the throne, the captain of half of his chariots, Zimri, killed him while he was getting drunk in the house of his steward Arza; and Zimri took the throne (8-10).
     In addition to killing Elah, he also killed everyone else in the household of Elah's father, Baasha, including his extended family and his friends. This came upon Baasha's household because of their great sins against the LORD (11-14).
     Zimri and Omri. Zimri reigned for seven days; but when the people heard of his conspiracy against Elah, they made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel. Omri trapped Zimri in Tirzah; and Zimri burned his palace down around him. He died for following the ways of Jeroboam (15-20).
     Tibni and Omri. But Israel split into two factions. One part followed Tibni; the other followed Omri. Omri's forces eventually killed Tibni. Omri then moved the capital of Israel to Samaria, where it remained till the end of the Kingdom of Israel (21-24).
     Omri. Omri was worse than the kings who were before him. He walked in the ways of Jeroboam. When he died, his son Ahab reigned in his stead (25-28).
     Ahab. Ahab reigned for twenty-two years. He was more evil than his father and all of those who came before him. He walked in the sins of Jeroboam; and he took Jezebel as his wife; and he began to serve the god Baal and promoted his worship. In Ahab's days, Hiel rebuilt Jericho. When he began, his son Abiram died. Some think Hiel sacrificed him (and, later, his brother). When he finished, his son Segub died. This fulfilled a prophecy by Joshua the son of Nun (29-34).

     [ Sermons: William Still. Dale R Davis. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Idolatry was the common flaw both in Israel and in Judah. The most prevalent idolatry was the worship of Baal, who is depicted in today's painting. ]

     ²⁹ And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. ³⁰ And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. ³¹ And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. ³² And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. ³³ And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. ³⁴ In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

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