John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust , etc.] 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - This chapter relates wholly to the kingdom of Israel, and the revolutions of that kingdom. God calls Israel his people still, thoug wretchedly corrupted. Jehu foretells the same destruction to come upo Baasha's family, which that king had been employed to bring upon the family of Jeroboam. Those who resemble others in their sins, may expec to resemble them in the plagues they suffer, especially those who see zealous against such sins in others as they allow in themselves. Baash himself dies in peace, and is buried with honour. Herein plainl appears that there are punishments after death, which are most to be dreaded. Let Elah be a warning to drunkards, who know not but death ma surprise them. Death easily comes upon men when they are drunk. Beside the diseases which men bring themselves into by drinking, when in tha state, men are easily overcome by an enemy, and liable to ba accidents. Death comes terribly upon men in such a state, finding the in the act of sin, and unfitted for any act of devotion; that day come upon them unawares. The word of God was fulfilled, and the sins of Baasha and Elah were reckoned for, with which they provoked God. Their idols are called their vanities, for idols cannot profit nor help miserable are those whose gods are vanities.
Original Hebrew יען3282 אשׁר834 הרימתיך7311 מן4480 העפר6083 ואתנך5414 נגיד5057 על5921 עמי5971 ישׂראל3478 ותלך1980 בדרך1870 ירבעם3379 ותחטא2398 את853 עמי5971 ישׂראל3478 להכעיסני3707 בחטאתם׃2403
