Elah King of Isra’el
First Kings 16: 8-14
Elah king of Isra’el DIG: What did Zimri have against Elah? Is power hazardous to your health? How was Zimri part of Jehu’s prophecy (First Kings 16:3)? Why doesn’t Elah suspect Zimri? Why did Zimri execute his friends, as well as the family of Ba’sha (see verse 11)?
REFLECT: Ever been betrayed by a friend, or are you a good judge of character? How so? Can you succeed by being nice in a “dog-eat-dog” world? Do you have to be violent to be safe? Explain? If a person’s sin fulfills a prophecy of God’s will, how can they be held accountable?
Obedience, not knowledge, was his problem.
The background of the king: Yet another man ascends to the northern kingdom throne during Asa’s reign. It was in the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah that Elah the son of Ba’asha began his reign over all Isra’el in Tirzah, and he ruled for two very evil years that followed in the footsteps of all the other wicked kings of the North (First Kings 16:8).
The death of the king Elah: Elah died one of the most ignoble deaths in the Bible. Rather than dying on the field of battle, giving his blood to defend his country, his life ended in a drunken stupor. His servant Zimri, commander of half of his chariots, had access to the king and plotted against him. Ba’asha had a natural death, but his son did not. Elah appears to be a self-indulgent man who would rather get drunk with his friends than serve ADONAI and people. One time when Elah was in Tirzah, drinking himself senseless in the house of Arza, administrator of the palace in Tirzah. Zimri entered, struck him down and killed him. What a better time to murder him than when he was drunk! This was in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah; Zimri then took Elah’s place as king (First Kings 16:9-10). Both Elah and his father Ba’asha forgot the words of Solomon, who knew a thing or two about kingship: Woe to you, land, when your king is immature, and your leaders start their parties in the morning! Such a land is in trouble. It is not only the king who lets the nation down, however, it is also the leaders. In contrast to the gluttonous leaders, happy are you, land, when your king is well-born, and your princes eat at the proper time, in order to stay strong, not to get drunk (Ecclesiastes 10:16-17).393
What happened next was all too predictable. Just as Baasha destroyed the house of Nadab, so Zimri destroyed the house of Elah. In an act of Mafia-style violence, the commander eliminated any possibility of revenge by killing every member of Elah’s family. When Zimri began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends (First Kings 16:11).
It must be pointed out that a person who fulfills divine prophecy is not innocent of sin. Both Ba’asha and Zimri were murderers and guilty of assassinating their king, and the LORD held them responsible. It’s like Judas . . . he fulfilled a divine prophecy (Zechariah 11:12-13; Psalm 41:9), but was still held responsible and accountable for his betrayal of the Messiah. The dynasty of Jeroboam was no more and the dynasty of Ba’asha was no more. However, in Judah, the dynasty of David continued.394
The significance of his reign: Like Elah’s father Ba’asha, as soon as Zimri seized the throne, he killed off the entire house of Ba’asha. He left not a single male of his relatives. Not content to murder Ba’asha’s entire family, he elevated his sin to a new level and also murdered his friends. Thus, Zimri eliminated all the house of Ba’asha, in keeping with the word of ADONAI spoken against Ba’asha through Jehu the prophet (First Kings 16:1-4). This word had been spoken because of all of Ba’asha’s sins and the sins of Elah his son, which they committed and with which they made Isra’el sin (to see link click Dd – Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel), thereby angering ADONAI the God of Isra’el with their worthless idols (First Kings 16:11-13). Emphasis is placed on the prophecy fulfilled by Zimri, even if he did so unwittingly. Both Ba’asha and Elah could have avoided this disaster by serving ADONAI instead of idols but chose another path. Apparently the northern kings did not believe it was possible to govern the people if they insisted on righteous behavior and proper worship. Obedience, not knowledge, is their problem.395
The summary of his reign: Other activities of Elah and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra’el (16:14).
Dear Wise and Loving Heavenly Father, Praise Your steadfast love (Psalms 63:3)! Your forever lovingkindness is wonderful! You hold out an eternity of peace and joy to all who choose to love and follow You. It is so tragic that many choose to follow wordly pleasures that endure for only a short time. Moses is a good example for us of setting our eyes on our eternal reward. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Instead he chose to suffer mistreatment along with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:24-25). Moses knew the value of true and lasting riches. Even ruling a kingdom was not enough to entice him. Wisely, he choose to look ahead to all eternity and follow You as the most important thing in his life. He considered the disgrace of Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt – because he was looking ahead to the reward (Hebrews 11:26).
Our time on earth will seem like a blink in time to capered to all eternity. It is so wise to make the right choice to love and follow you now, even if it means persecution. For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). All our trials will soon be over and in their place will be eternity – either an eternal life of peace and joy in heaven with You, or separated from You in eternal hell. No one can fool You (Second Timothy 2:19). You see each heart and you know who loves You most and who loves themselves the most. These shall go off to everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life (Matthew 25:56). Thank You for making such a wonderful home in heaven for those who love You (John 14:1-3)! To the One who sits at Your right hand. Amen
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