1 Kings 21:22

And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked [me] to anger, and made Israel to sin.

And will make {H5414} thine house {H1004} like the house {H1004} of Jeroboam {H3379} the son {H1121} of Nebat {H5028}, and like the house {H1004} of Baasha {H1201} the son {H1121} of Ahijah {H281}, for the provocation {H3708} wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger {H3707}, and made Israel {H3478} to sin {H2398}.

I will make your house like the house of Yarov'am the son of N'vat and like the house of Ba'sha the son of Achiyah for provoking my anger and leading Isra'el into sin.'

I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.’

and I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and hast made Israel to sin.

Commentary

1 Kings 21:22 delivers a scathing prophecy of judgment against King Ahab, declaring that his royal house will suffer the same devastating fate as the dynasties of Jeroboam and Baasha. This pronouncement comes directly from the prophet Elijah, speaking the word of the Lord, following Ahab’s egregious sin regarding Naboth’s vineyard, which epitomized his deep-seated wickedness and idolatry.

Historical and Cultural Context

King Ahab, ruler of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was arguably one of its most wicked kings, largely influenced by his Phoenician wife, Jezebel. Their reign was marked by extreme devotion to Baal worship, leading the nation into widespread apostasy. The reference to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, recalls the first king of Israel who established idolatrous golden calves at Dan and Bethel, setting a pattern of national sin. His dynasty was subsequently cut off by Baasha (see 1 Kings 15:29). Similarly, Baasha, the son of Ahijah, though he overthrew Jeroboam's house, continued the same idolatrous practices, leading to his own dynasty's destruction (see 1 Kings 16:3-4). By invoking these two previous, violently ended dynasties, God underscores the certainty and severity of Ahab's impending doom.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment for Persistent Sin: The verse highlights God's unwavering justice against those who continually provoke Him, especially through idolatry and injustice.
  • Consequences of Wicked Leadership: Ahab's sin was not merely personal; his actions "made Israel to sin," demonstrating how a leader's choices can corrupt an entire nation.
  • Pattern of Retribution: God's judgment follows a consistent pattern throughout Israel's history: rebellion against His covenant leads to severe consequences, often culminating in the eradication of wicked ruling houses.
  • Idolatry as Provocation: The core of Ahab's offense, the "provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger," was his fervent promotion of Baal worship, which directly violated God's commands for exclusive worship.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "provocation" is ka'as, which conveys strong feelings of vexation, grief, or anger. It emphasizes that Ahab's actions were not merely an oversight but a deliberate and deeply offensive affront to God's holiness. The phrase "made Israel to sin" (Hebrew: hecheti'a et Yisrael) highlights Ahab's active role in leading the nation astray, making him culpable for the collective spiritual downfall, not just his personal transgressions.

Practical Application

This powerful warning to Ahab carries timeless lessons for us today. It reminds us that:

  • Accountability for Leadership: Those in positions of influence, whether in family, community, or nation, bear a greater responsibility for their actions, as their choices can significantly impact others.
  • The Seriousness of Idolatry: While modern idolatry may not involve golden calves, it can manifest in worship of wealth, power, self, or anything that displaces God as supreme. This verse warns against allowing anything to take God's rightful place in our lives.
  • God's Justice Prevails: Despite apparent prosperity or power, unrepentant wickedness will eventually face God's just judgment. Conversely, God's patience and mercy are always available for those who genuinely repent, as seen in Ahab's temporary humbling, which delayed some of the immediate judgment on his house.
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 16:3

    Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

  • 1 Kings 16:11

    And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, [that] he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.

  • 1 Kings 14:16

    And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

  • 1 Kings 15:29

    And it came to pass, when he reigned, [that] he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:

  • 1 Kings 15:30

    Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.

  • 1 Kings 16:26

    For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

  • 1 Kings 15:34

    And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
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