Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 16:2
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;
2. I exalted thee out of the dust ] This may signify that Baasha was of humble origin; but to be chosen of God and called to the position of a ruler of Israel was great exaltation out of any station.
prince over my people ] Though Israel has offended, they are still God’s people. They have rejected His law, but He does not reject them. From the house of Baasha there was expected to come some amendment of the evil ways of Jeroboam.
to provoke me to anger with their sins ] For the last three words the LXX. gives , ‘with their vanities;’ a common form of expression in similar phrases. See below, 1Ki 16:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Made thee prince over my people] That is, in the course of my providence, I suffered thee to become king; for it is impossible that God should make a rebel, a traitor, and a murderer, king over his people, or over any people. God is ever represented in Scripture as doing those things which, in the course of his providence, he permits to be done.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Out of the dust; out of a low and mean estate. See 1Sa 2:8; Psa 113:7.
Quest: How is Baashas exaltation to the kingdom ascribed to God, when he got it by treachery and cruelty? Answ. Though that way or manner of invading the kingdom was from himself, and his own wicked heart; yet the translation of the kingdom from Nadab to Baasha, simply considered, was from God, who by his decree and providence ordered it, and disposed of all occasions, and of the hearts of all the soldiers and people, so that Baasha should have opportunity of executing Gods judgment upon Nadab; and such success thereupon, that he should get a present and quiet possession of the kingdom. Nay, the very act of Baasha, to wit, the killing of his master Nadab, was an act of Divine justice, foretold and appointed by God, 1Ki 14:10. And if Baasha had done this in obedience to Gods command, and with a single design to execute Gods vengeance threatened against him, it had been no more a sin than Jehus act in killing his master king Jehoram, upon the same account, 2Ki 9. But that Baasha did this merely to gratify his own pride, or covetousness, or malice, this was not from God, but from himself, and therefore is charged upon him as murder here, 1Ki 16:7.
To provoke me to anger: See Poole “1Ki 14:9“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Forasmuch as I exalted theeThedoom he pronounced on Baasha was exactly the same as denouncedagainst Jeroboam and his posterity. Though he had waded throughslaughter to his throne, he owed his elevation to the appointment orpermission of Him “by whom kings reign.”
over my people IsraelWithall their errors and lapses into idolatry, they were not whollyabandoned by God. He still showed His interest in them by sendingprophets and working miracles in their favor, and possessed amultitude of faithful worshippers in the kingdom of Israel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust,…. From a very low estate, and mean family:
and made thee prince over my people Israel; as they were of right, and ought to have been; and though Baasha got the kingdom by treachery and murder, yet the translation of the kingdom to him was according to the appointment of God, and by his overruling providence; and even his act of killing Nadab was a fulfilment of a prophecy of his; and had he done it in obedience to the will of God, and in vengeance for his sin, would not have been blameworthy, since then he would have been an executioner of the, justice of God:
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; committing and encouraging the same idolatrous practices, so very provoking to God.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Forasmuch as I exalted thee . . .The prophecyclosely resembling that of Ahijah against Jeroboamclearly shows that Baasha had a probation, which he neglected; and it seems to be implied in 1Ki. 16:7 that his guilt was enhanced by perseverance in the very sins for which, by his hand, so terrible a vengeance had been inflicted.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 16:2. Forasmuch as I exalted thee It may be asked, how Baasha’s exaltation to the kingdom of Israel can be ascribed to God, when it is manifest that he gained it by his own treachery and cruelty? To which it may be replied, that though the manner of invading the kingdom was from himself and his own wicked heart, yet the translation of the kingdom from Nadab to Baasha, simply considered, was from God, who by his decree and Providence ordered it, and so disposed of all occasions, and of the hearts of all the soldiers and the people, that Baasha should have opportunity to execute his judgments upon Nadab, and such success thereupon, as should procure him an immediate and quiet possession of the kingdom. So that his accession to the kingdom was from the divine decree, though the form and manner of his accession was from himself, from his own ambition and covetousness; and, as it was wicked and cruel, is therefore charged upon him, 1Ki 16:7 as a wilful murder.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Ki 16:2 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;
Ver. 2. Forasmuch as I exalted thee. ] See 1Ki 14:7 . Ingentia beneficia, flagitia, supplicia, say the Centurists.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
prince: or captain = one raised up. Hebrew. nagid.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I exalted thee: 1Ki 14:7, 1Sa 2:8, 1Sa 2:27, 1Sa 2:28, 1Sa 15:17-19, 2Sa 12:7-11, Psa 113:7, Psa 113:8, Luk 1:52
thou hast walked: 1Ki 13:33, 1Ki 13:34, 1Ki 15:34
hast made my people: 1Ki 14:16, 1Ki 15:26, Exo 32:21, 1Sa 2:24, 1Sa 26:19, Mat 5:19
Reciprocal: 1Ki 16:7 – the hand 1Ki 16:26 – he walked 2Ki 9:6 – over the people
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 16:2. Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust Probably from a mean family in the tribe of Issachar. Perhaps he was but a common soldier, or some very inferior officer in the army which besieged Gibbethon; but, being bold and daring, he formed a conspiracy against Nadab. The message which this prophet brought to Baasha is much the same with that which Ahijah sent to Jeroboam by his wife. 1st, He reminds him of the great things God had done for him: 2d, He charges him with high crimes and misdemeanours; and, 3d, He fore-tels the same destruction to come upon his family which he himself had been employed to bring on the family of Jeroboam. And made thee prince over my people Israel But it may be asked, how Baashas exaltation to the kingdom can he ascribed to God, when it is manifest he obtained it by his own treachery and cruelty? To this Mr. Poole replies, that though the manner of invading the kingdom was from himself and his own wicked heart, yet, the translation of the kingdom from Nadab to Baasha, simply considered, was from God, who by his decree and providence ordered it, and disposed of all occasions, and of the hearts of all the soldiers, and the people so, that Baasha should have the opportunity of executing Gods judgment upon Nadab, and such success thereon, as should procure him a present and quiet possession of the kingdom. So that his accession to the kingdom was from the divine decree; but the form and manner of his accession was from himself, from his own ambition and covetousness, which induced him to kill Nadab; and as it was wicked and cruel, it is therefore charged upon him as a wilful murder, 1Ki 16:7.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:2 {a} 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;
(a) Thus spoke Jehu to Baasha in the Name of the Lord.