INTRODUCTION: Asa, king of Judah, had a long reign of forty-one years. During this time, the northern kingdom of Israel had several kings. This chapter tells the story of those kings.

1. THE REIGN OF BAASHA (1 Kings 16:1-7 [1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, [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; [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. [4] Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat. [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? [6] So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. [7] And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
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1. The Prophecy Against Baasha (1 Kings 16:1-4 [1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, [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; [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. [4] Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
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1. His promotion (1 Kings 16:1-2 [1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, [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;
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1. He was exalted out of the dust (1 Kings 16:2Forasmuch 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;
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2. He was made prince over Israel (1 Kings 16:2Forasmuch 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;
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2. His sin (1 Kings 16:2Forasmuch 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;
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1. He walked in the way of Jeroboam.
2. He made Israel sin.
3. He provoked the Lord to anger.
3. His punishment (1 Kings 16:3-4 [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. [4] Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
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1. His posterity will be taken away (1 Kings 16:3Behold, 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.
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2. Their bodies will be dishonoured (1 Kings 16:4Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
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1. Him that dieth in the city shall the dogs eat.
2. Him that dieth in the fields shall the fowls eat.
2. The End of Baasha’s Reign (1 Kings 16:5-7 [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? [6] So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead. [7] And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
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1. The chronicles of his life (1 Kings 16:5Now 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?
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2. The place of his burial (1 Kings 16:6So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
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3. The choice of his successor (1 Kings 16:6So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.
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4. The fulfillment of his punishment (1 Kings 16:7And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.
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2. THE REIGN OF ELAH (1 Kings 16:8-14 [8] In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years. [9] 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. [10] And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. [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. [12] Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet. [13] For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities. [14] Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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1. The Time of His Reign (1 Kings 16:8In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.
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1. He began in the twenty and sixth year of Asa.
2. He reigned two years.
2. The Conspiracy of His Reign (1 Kings 16:9-13 [9] 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. [10] And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. [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. [12] Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet. [13] For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
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1. The source of the conspiracy (1 Kings 16:9And 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.
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1. His servant Zimri
2. Captain of half his chariots
2. The act of conspiracy (1 Kings 16:9-10 [9] 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. [10] And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
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1. Elah was drinking himself drunk in the house of his steward (1 Kings 16:9And 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.
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2. Zimri entered the house and killed Elah and reigned in his stead (1 Kings 16:10And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
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3. The completion of the conspiracy (1 Kings 16:11And 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.
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1. Zimri slew the house of Baasha.
2. He killed all the men associated with Baasha including all his kinfolks and his friends.
4. The conspiracy fulfilled prophecy (1 Kings 16:12-13 [12] Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet. [13] For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
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3. The Chronicle of His Life (1 Kings 16:14Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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3. THE REIGN OF ZIMRI (1 Kings 16:15-20 [15] In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. [16] And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. [17] And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. [18] And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died. [19] For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. [20] Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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1. The Time of His Reign (1 Kings 16:15In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
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1. He began in the twenty and seventh year of Asa.
2. He reigned seven days.
2. The Downfall of His Reign (1 Kings 16:15-19 [15] In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. [16] And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. [17] And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. [18] And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died. [19] For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
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1. Israel was prepared to battle against the Philistines (1 Kings 16:15In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
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2. The troops heard of Zimri’s conspiracy (1 Kings 16:16And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
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3. They made Omri, captain of the host, king (1 Kings 16:16And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
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4. The troops, under the leadership of Omri, left off fighting against the Philistines and besieged Tirzah, the city of Zimri (1 Kings 16:17And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
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5. Zimri burned himself with the king’s house (1 Kings 16:18And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died.
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6. He walked in the sins of Jeroboam (1 Kings 16:19For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
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3. The Chronicle of His Life (1 Kings 16:20Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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4. THE REIGN OF TIBNI (1 Kings 16:21-22 [21] Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. [22] But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
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1. The Division of His Reign (1 Kings 16:21Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
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1. Half of the people followed Tibni.
2. Half of the people followed Omri.
2. The Defeat of His Reign (1 Kings 16:22But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
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5. THE REIGN OF OMRI (1 Kings 16:23-28 [23] In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah. [24] And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. [25] But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. [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. [27] Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? [28] So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
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1. The Time of His Reign (1 Kings 16:23In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
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1. He began in the thirty and first year of Asa.
2. He reigned a total of twelve years, six of which were in Tirzah.
2. His Purchase of Samaria (1 Kings 16:24And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
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1. He purchased the hill for two talents of silver.
2. He built a city on the hill.
3. He named the city after the previous owner.
3. His Sins (1 Kings 16:25-26 [25] But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. [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.
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1. He wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD (1 Kings 16:25But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
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2. He did worse than all that were before him (1 Kings 16:25But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.
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3. He walked in the way of Jeroboam (1 Kings 16:26For 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.
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4. The Chronicle of His Life (1 Kings 16:27-28 [27] Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? [28] So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.
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6. THE REIGN OF AHAB (1 Kings 16:29-34 [29] And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. [30] And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. [31] And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. [32] And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [33] And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. [34] In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
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1. The Time of His Reign (1 Kings 16:29And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
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1. He began in the thirty and eighth year of Asa.
2. He reigned in Samaria twenty and two years.
2. The Sins of His Reign (1 Kings 16:30-34 [30] And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. [31] And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. [32] And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [33] And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. [34] In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
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1. He did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him (1 Kings 16:30And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
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2. He took Jezebel to be his wife (1 Kings 16:31And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
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3. He became engrossed in idolatry (1 Kings 16:31-33 [31] And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. [32] And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [33] And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
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1. He worshipped and served Baal (1 Kings 16:31And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
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2. He built Baal a house in Samaria (1 Kings 16:32And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
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3. He reared up an altar for Baal (1 Kings 16:32And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
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4. He made a grove (1 Kings 16:33And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
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4. The rebuilding of Jericho (1 Kings 16:34In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
   See All...; see Joshua 6:26And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
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1. Hiel, the Bethelite, built Jericho.
2. He laid the foundation at the expense of the life of Abiram his firstborn.
3. He set up the gates at the expense of the life of his youngest son Segub.
4. The punishment was in line with what was promised by the word of the Lord.

CONCLUSION: Righteousness brings stability. The absence of righteousness brings division and chaos. Gone were the days of the godly king who had a heart for God. Truly, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
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