1 Kings 16:5

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?

Now the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Baasha {H1201}, and what he did {H6213}, and his might {H1369}, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}?

Other activities of Ba'sha, his accomplishments and his power are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

As for the rest of the acts of Baasha, along with his accomplishments and might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

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?

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 16:5

This verse appears in the historical narrative of the divided kingdom, specifically during the reign of Baasha, the third king of Israel (the northern kingdom). Baasha seized the throne by assassinating Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, thereby fulfilling a prophecy against Jeroboam's house (1 Kings 15:29). His 24-year rule was marked by continuous conflict with Asa, king of Judah (1 Kings 15:32). The phrase "Now the rest of the acts of Baasha... are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?" is a recurring formula throughout the books of Kings. It signifies that the biblical account is not exhaustive but draws upon and refers to external, likely official state archives of the time, for further details about the monarch's reign, military exploits, and other administrative matters.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Selectivity of Scripture: The Bible's primary purpose is not to provide a comprehensive historical record of every king's reign, but rather to present a theological history that highlights God's covenant relationship with Israel, the consequences of obedience and disobedience, and His sovereign hand in human affairs. The reference to the "chronicles" indicates that more extensive secular records existed, from which the biblical authors selectively drew what was pertinent to their divine message.
  • Authority and Reliability: By pointing to external, contemporary records, the biblical narrative implicitly affirms its grounding in verifiable historical fact. It suggests that the biblical authors were not inventing stories but were careful historians, albeit with a distinct theological focus.
  • Divine Oversight: Even the details of a king's "might" and "acts," recorded in secular chronicles, are presented within the broader context of God's overarching plan and judgment upon the kings of Israel and Judah.

Linguistic Insights

The rhetorical question, "are they not written in the book of the chronicles...?", is a common literary device found throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. It serves to inform the reader that additional information about the king's reign is available in other historical documents, reinforcing the idea that the biblical account is a curated narrative focused on spiritual and covenantal themes rather than an exhaustive historical encyclopedia. This phrase underlines the Bible's role as a theological interpretation of history.

Practical Application

This verse, though seemingly a mere administrative note, offers several insights for believers today:

  • It reminds us that the Bible is purposeful in its content, focusing on what is essential for understanding God's character, His plan for humanity, and our relationship with Him. We should seek its primary message rather than getting lost in extraneous details.
  • It encourages confidence in the historical reliability of the biblical text, understanding that its authors referenced known records of their time.
  • It highlights that all of history, even the seemingly mundane details of political reigns and battles, is ultimately unfolding under the sovereign hand of God. Just as Baasha's acts were recorded, so too are our lives within God's greater narrative.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:31

    Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

  • 1 Kings 14:19

    And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:1

    ¶ In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:6

    Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
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