1 KINGS 16


The terrible apostasy of the northern nation is revealed in the history recorded of the house of Jeroboam. Intrigue and wickedness permeate the whole scene, and bring the wisdom of Yahweh into disrepute.

The House of Baasha doomed


1 Then the word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

Jehu's name means "Yah is He." His father was a prophet (2Chr. 16:7-10). Thus father and son ministered on Yahweh's behalf in the two kingdoms. Jehu later reproves Jehoshaphat for aiding Ahab and wrote a narrative of Ahab's actions (2Chr. 19:2; 20:34).*

2 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;

I exalted thee


Baasha's heart was not right before Yahweh. He did not extol his Elohim with his heart, soul and mind. The fear of Yahweh was not the motive principle of his life as it was with King David.

Yahweh reveals that what He permits He makes, but He is not responsible for the abuse of power. The word "prince" is from the Hebrew 'nagid,' one exalted.

Baasha had executed judgment against the house of Jeroboam, but had not profited by its mistakes, thus the same judgment was levelled against Baasha.*

Bro Graeham Mansfield, Logos



33 And Ahab made a grove [Ach'av made HaAsherah]; and Ahab [Ach'av] did more to provoke Yahweh Elohim of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel [Malkhei Yisroel] that were before him.


It was not just personal wickedness, but a systematic attempt to break down and corrupt the true worship of God-like today, a mixing of true and false-and mix Baal worship in with it.

Baal worship, brought in by Jezebel, beside having the prestige and power of the throne behind it, was very gratifying and appealing to the flesh, like the present corrupt modern philosophy of so-called freedom that is breaking down all the moral barriers; while the self-control of pure worship and obedience to God has always been humbling to the spirit and crucifying to the flesh.

Without a bulwark of strength like Elijah to sound the trumpet-call, Baal worship would have been triumphant.

The trend was - like today, in the world and amongst many of those called from the world -instead of a clear-cut distinction, to try to make the two compatible - to emphasize the similarities, and minimize the differences between Baal-worship and Yahweh-worship.

Bro Growcott - Yahweh Elohim of Israel Liveth