16 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu(A) son of Hanani(B) concerning Baasha: “I lifted you up from the dust(C) and appointed you ruler(D) over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused(E) my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So I am about to wipe out Baasha(F) and his house,(G) and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Dogs(H) will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds(I) will feed on those who die in the country.”

As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals(J) of the kings of Israel? Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah.(K) And Elah his son succeeded him as king.

Moreover, the word of the Lord came(L) through the prophet Jehu(M) son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam—and also because he destroyed it.

Elah King of Israel

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.

Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk(N) in the home of Arza, the palace administrator(O) at Tirzah. 10 Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king.(P)

11 As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha’s whole family.(Q) He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend. 12 So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu— 13 because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.(R)

14 As for the other events of Elah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

Zimri King of Israel

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days. The army was encamped near Gibbethon,(S) a Philistine town. 16 When the Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day there in the camp. 17 Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah. 18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, 19 because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

20 As for the other events of Zimri’s reign, and the rebellion he carried out, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

Omri King of Israel

21 Then the people of Israel were split into two factions; half supported Tibni son of Ginath for king, and the other half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.(T) 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents[a] of silver and built a city on the hill, calling it Samaria,(U) after Shemer, the name of the former owner of the hill.

25 But Omri did evil(V) in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. 26 He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused(W) Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.(X)

27 As for the other events of Omri’s reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 28 Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria.(Y) And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.

Ahab Becomes King of Israel

29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more(Z) evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married(AA) Jezebel daughter(AB) of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal(AC) and worship him. 32 He set up an altar(AD) for Baal in the temple(AE) of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole(AF) and did more(AG) to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

34 In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 16:24 That is, about 150 pounds or about 68 kilograms

16 Aber das Wort des Herrn erging an Jehu, den Sohn Hananis, gegen Baesa folgendermaßen:

Weil ich dich aus dem Staub erhoben und dich zum Fürsten über mein Volk Israel gemacht habe und du in dem Weg Jerobeams gewandelt und mein Volk Israel zur Sünde verführt hast, sodass du mich durch ihre Sünden erzürnst,

siehe, so will ich die Nachkommen Baesas und die Nachkommen seines Hauses ausfegen und mit deinem Haus verfahren wie mit dem Haus Jerobeams, des Sohnes Nebats.

Wer von Baesa in der Stadt stirbt, den sollen die Hunde fressen, und wer von ihm auf dem Feld stirbt, den sollen die Vögel des Himmels fressen!

Was aber mehr von Baesa zu sagen ist, und was er getan hat und seine Macht, ist das nicht geschrieben im Buch der Chronik der Könige von Israel?

Und Baesa legte sich zu seinen Vätern und wurde in Tirza begraben, und sein Sohn Ela wurde König an seiner Stelle.

Auch erging das Wort des Herrn durch den Propheten Jehu, den Sohn Hananis, gegen Baesa und gegen sein Haus, um all des Bösen willen, das er vor dem Herrn tat, indem er ihn durch das Werk seiner Hände erzürnte, sodass es wurde wie das Haus Jerobeams, und weil er jenes erschlagen hatte.

König Ela von Israel

Im sechsundzwanzigsten Jahr [der Regierung] Asas, des Königs von Juda, wurde Ela, der Sohn Baesas, in Tirza König über Israel [und regierte] zwei Jahre lang.

Und sein Knecht Simri, der Oberste über die Hälfte der Streitwagen, machte eine Verschwörung gegen ihn. Er aber war in Tirza, trank und berauschte sich im Haus Arzas, der über das [königliche] Haus in Tirza gesetzt war.

10 Und Simri kam hinein und schlug ihn tot im siebenundzwanzigsten Jahr [der Regierung] Asas, des Königs von Juda; und er wurde König an seiner Stelle.

11 Und es geschah, als er König war und auf seinem Thron saß, da erschlug er das ganze Haus Baesas und ließ nichts von ihm übrig, was männlich war, auch dessen Bluträcher und Freunde nicht.

12 So vertilgte Simri das ganze Haus Baesas nach dem Wort des Herrn, das er durch den Propheten Jehu über Baesa geredet hatte,

13 um aller Sünden Baesas und um der Sünden seines Sohnes Ela willen, die sie begingen und durch die sie Israel zur Sünde verführten und den Herrn, den Gott Israels, durch ihre nichtigen Götzen erzürnten.

14 Was aber mehr von Ela zu sagen ist, und alles, was er getan hat, ist das nicht geschrieben im Buch der Chronik der Könige von Israel?

König Simri von Israel

15 Im siebenundzwanzigsten Jahr [der Regierung] Asas, des Königs von Juda, wurde Simri König in Tirza sieben Tage lang; und das Volk lag vor Gibbeton, das den Philistern gehörte.

16 Als aber das Volk im Lager sagen hörte: Simri hat eine Verschwörung gemacht und hat auch den König erschlagen!, da machte am selben Tag das ganze Israel im Lager Omri, den Heerführer, zum König über Israel.

17 Und Omri zog von Gibbeton hinauf und ganz Israel mit ihm, und sie belagerten Tirza.

18 Und es geschah, als Simri sah, dass die Stadt eingenommen war, ging er in die Burg des Königshauses und verbrannte sich samt dem Haus des Königs und starb,

19 [und zwar] wegen seiner Sünden, die er getan hatte, indem er tat, was böse war in den Augen des Herrn, und indem er wandelte in dem Weg Jerobeams und in seiner Sünde, die er beging, durch die er Israel zur Sünde verführt hatte.

20 Was aber mehr von Simri zu sagen ist, und seine Verschwörung, die er gemacht hat, ist das nicht geschrieben im Buch der Chronik der Könige von Israel?

König Omri von Israel

21 Damals teilte sich das Volk Israel in zwei Parteien: Die eine Hälfte des Volkes hing an Tibni, dem Sohn Ginats, um ihn zum König zu machen, die andere Hälfte aber hing an Omri.

22 Aber das Volk, das an Omri hing, siegte über das Volk, das an Tibni, dem Sohn Ginats, hing. Und Tibni starb, und Omri wurde König.

23 Im einunddreißigsten Jahr [der Regierung] Asas, des Königs von Juda, wurde Omri König über Israel [und regierte] zwölf Jahre lang. In Tirza regierte er sechs Jahre.

24 Er kaufte aber den Berg Samaria von Semer um zwei Talente Silber und baute auf dem Berg; und er nannte die Stadt, die er baute, »Samaria«[a], nach dem Namen Semers, des Herrn des Berges.

25 Und Omri tat, was böse war in den Augen des Herrn, und war schlimmer als alle, die vor ihm gewesen waren.

26 Und er wandelte in allen Wegen Jerobeams, des Sohnes Nebats, und in seinen Sünden, durch die er Israel zur Sünde verführte, sodass sie den Herrn, den Gott Israels, durch ihre nichtigen Götzen erzürnten.

27 Was aber mehr von Omri zu sagen ist, was er getan hat, und seine Macht, die er ausgeübt hat, ist das nicht geschrieben im Buch der Chronik der Könige von Israel?

28 Und Omri legte sich zu seinen Vätern und wurde in Samaria begraben, und Ahab, sein Sohn, wurde König an seiner Stelle.

König Ahab von Israel

29 Im achtunddreißigsten Jahr [der Regierung] Asas, des Königs von Juda, wurde Ahab, der Sohn Omris, König über Israel, und er regierte 22 Jahre lang in Samaria über Israel.

30 Und Ahab[b], der Sohn Omris, tat, was böse war in den Augen des Herrn, mehr als alle, die vor ihm gewesen waren.

31 War es nicht genug, dass er in den Sünden Jerobeams, des Sohnes Nebats, wandelte? Denn es geschah, dass er sogar Isebel[c] zur Frau nahm, die Tochter Et-Baals, des Königs der Zidonier; und er ging hin und diente dem Baal und betete ihn an.

32 Und er errichtete dem Baal einen Altar im Haus Baals, das er in Samaria baute.

33 Ahab machte auch ein Aschera-Standbild, sodass Ahab mehr tat, was den Herrn, den Gott Israels, erzürnte, als alle Könige von Israel, die vor ihm gewesen waren.

34 Zu seiner Zeit baute Hiel von Bethel Jericho [wieder auf]. Es kostete ihn seinen erstgeborenen Sohn Abiram, als er seinen Grund legte, und seinen jüngsten Sohn Segub, als er seine Tore setzte, nach dem Wort des Herrn, das er durch Josua, den Sohn Nuns, geredet hatte.[d]

Footnotes

  1. (16,24) hebr. Schomron = »Wächterberg«.
  2. (16,30) hebr. Achab bed. »Bruder des Vaters«.
  3. (16,31) bed. »Die Keusche / Unberührte / Unverheiratete«.
  4. (16,34) vgl. Jos 6,26.

16 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;

Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

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?

So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.

And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the Lord against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the Lord, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.

In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.

And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.

10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.

11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.

12 Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet.

13 For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord 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?

15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died.

19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

21 Then were the people of Israel 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 that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.

23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.

24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.

25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.

26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord 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 shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

28 So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

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.