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Chapter 16 relates wholly with the Kingdom of Israel. Baasha, the third King of Israel, was warned by God about his idolatry. He was warned that the same destruction that the Lord had brought upon the family of Jeroboam, would fall upon his family. But God granted Baasha a reprieve and allowed him to die in peace, but judgment does fall upon his son. At the death of Baasha, his son Elah becomes the fourth King of Israel. He reigned less than 2 years and was killed by Zimri, one of his own soldiers.
With the death of Elah, three men contrived for the crown of Israel. Zimri claimed it first and reigned 7 days until Omri returned from fighting the Philistines and forced Zimri into the Palace where he burned the Palace and killed himself. Then Omri claimed the thrown for himself but now he must deal with Tibni. Tibni took over the followers of Zimri and the contest between Omri and Tibni lasted for 4 years until Tibni died.
Omri, the sixth King of Israel, reigned for 11 years. During his reign he moved the Capitol from Tirzah to Samaria where it remained ever after. He negotiated trade agreements with neighboring nations and during his reign Israel became wealthy and a military power with international prestige. His liberal habit with foreigners became the custom of Samaria which was frowned upon by Judah and caused them to dislike the Samaritans even up to the time of Jesus. He was famous for his wickedness and he did worse than all that was before.
At his death, his son Ahab became the seventh King of Israel. Ahab married Jezebel, a Phoenician Princess. He allowed her to establish the worship of Baal and this angered the Lord and as judgment the orchards of Israel withered for 3" years.
One of Ahab's subjects, a man by the name of Heil, seeing the defiance of Ahab against God, decided to imitate him. He went to Jericho in defiance of the curse that Joshua had put upon anyone who would attempt to rebuild Jericho (Joshua 6:26). The curse was made 600 years before but when Heil, a man from Bethel, laid the foundation of the walls of Jericho, he lost his first-born son, Abiram, and when he put up the gates, he lost his youngest son, Segub, just as the curse had said.
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