1 Kings 16:9

1 Kings 16:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
• New International Version (NIV)Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk in the home of Arza, the palace administrator at Tirzah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah.

Context of 1 Kings 16:9

7In addition, the Lord spoke his word to the prophet Jehu, Hanani’s son, against Baasha and his family because of all the things Baasha did which the Lord considered evil. Baasha’s actions, which made the Lord furious, were like ⌞the sin of⌟ Jeroboam’s family. The Lord was also furious because Baasha destroyed Jeroboam’s family. 8Elah, son of Baasha, began to rule Israel in Asa’s twenty-sixth year as Judah’s king. He ruled in Tirzah for two years. But Zimri, the general who commanded half of Elah’s chariots, plotted against him. Elah was getting drunk in Tirzah at Arza’s house. (Arza was in charge of the palace in Tirzah.) 10Zimri entered Arza’s house, attacked Elah, and killed him in Asa’s twenty-seventh year as king of Judah. Zimri succeeded Elah as king ⌞of Israel⌟. 11At the beginning of Zimri’s reign, as soon as he was on his throne, he killed Baasha’s entire family. He didn’t spare any of Baasha’s male relatives or friends.

1 Kings 16:9 word by word

וַיִּקְשֹׁ֤ר עָלָיו֙ עַבְדּ֣וֹ זִמְרִ֔י שַׂ֖ר מַחֲצִ֣ית הָרָ֑כֶב וְה֤וּא בְתִרְצָה֙ שֹׁתֶ֣ה שִׁכּ֔וֹר בֵּ֣ית אַרְצָ֔א אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הַבַּ֖יִת בְּתִרְצָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And his servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• Zimriזִמְרִיzimrîy · ZimriH2174
• captainשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• of halfמַחֲצִיתmachătsîyth · halfH4276
• chariotsרֶ֫כֶבrekeb · chariotH7393
• conspiredקָשַׁרqâshar · to conspireH7194
• against him, as he was in Tirzahתִּרְצָהtirtsâh · TirzahH8656
• drinkingשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• himself drunkשִׁכֹּרshikkôr shikkôr · drunkenH7910
• in the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• of Arzaאַרְצָא'artsâ' · ArzaH777
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004

Cross-references for 1 Kings 16:9

• 2 Kings 9:31When Jehu entered the gateway, she asked, “Is everything alright, Zimri, murderer of your master?”
• 1 Kings 15:27Then Baasha, son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar, plotted against Nadab. Baasha assassinated him in the Philistine city of Gibbethon while Nadab and the Israelite forces were attacking it.
• 2 Kings 9:14So Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. (Joram and all Israel were guarding Ramoth Gilead against King Hazael of Aram.
• 2 Kings 12:20His own officials plotted against him and killed him at Beth Millo on the road that goes down to Silla.
• 2 Kings 15:10Shallum, son of Jabesh, plotted against Zechariah, attacked him at Kabal Am, killed him, and succeeded him as king.
• 1 Kings 20:16They attacked at noon, when Benhadad was in his tent getting drunk with the 32 kings who were his allies.
• 1 Samuel 25:36When Abigail came to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his home. It was like a king’s banquet. He was in a good mood and very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything until dawn.
• 2 Samuel 13:28Then Absalom gave an order to his servants. “Watch now,” he said. “When Amnon begins to feel good from drinking ⌞too much⌟ wine, I’ll tell you, ‘Attack Amnon.’ Then kill him. Don’t be afraid. I’ve given you the order, haven’t I? Be strong and courageous.”
• Proverbs 23:29Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
• Jeremiah 51:57I will make their officials and wise men drunk, along with their governors, officers, and soldiers. They will fall into a deep sleep and never wake up,” declares the king, whose name is the Lord of Armies.
• Daniel 5:1King Belshazzar threw a large banquet for 1,000 nobles and drank wine with them.
• Daniel 5:30That night King Belshazzar of Babylon was killed.
• Nahum 1:10⌞The people of Nineveh will be⌟ like tangled thorns and like people drunk on their own drink. They will be completely burned up like very dry straw.
• Habakkuk 2:15“ ‘How horrible it will be for the one who makes his neighbor drink from the bowl of God’s rage, making him drunk in order to stare at his nakedness.’
• Matthew 24:49The servant may begin to beat the other servants and eat and drink with the drunks.
• Luke 21:34“Make sure that you don’t become drunk, hung over, and worried about life. Then that day could suddenly catch you by surprise

Commentaries on 1 Kings 16:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Captain of half his chariots - It is probable that Zimri, and some other who is not here named, were commanders of the cavalry.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The conspiracy of Zimri - Elah‘s “servant” (i. e., “subject”) - was favored by his position, which probably gave him military authority in the city, by the absence of a great part of the people and of the officers who might have checked him, at Gibbethon 1 Kings 16:15, and by the despicable character of Elah, who, instead of going up to the war, was continually reminding men of his low origin by conduct unworthy of royalty. Steward - The office was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10Elah got drunk in Tirzah while his army fought for their lives in the Philistine-controlled city of Gibbethon (1 Kings 16:15). This showed his poor character. He was even less suitable to rule than his father, Baasha (see 1 Kings 16:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-129-12. Zimri ... conspired against him--"Arza which was over his house." During a carousal in the house of his chamberlain, Zimri slew him, and having seized the sovereignty, endeavored to consolidate his throne by the massacre of all the royal race.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 16:9

• Anger
• Arza
• Citizens
• Conspiracy
• Drunkenness
• Elah
• Homicide
• King
• Prophecy
• Regicide
• Servant
• Tirzah
• Usurpation
• Zimri

In the dictionaries

• Tirzah
• Ahab
• Baasha
• Elah
• Zimri
• Arza
• Chariot
• Drunkenness
• Elah (2)
• Eliakim

Commentaries on 1 Kings 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings