Daily Tanach Tuesday Sefer Melachim 1 Chapter 16: The reign of Elah

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer

1.      The reign of Elah:

  • The years of reign of Elah: Elah, the son of Basha, ruled over Israel in Tirzah for two years. He became king in the twenty sixth year of reign of Asa, king of Judah.

 

2.      The death of Elah, and the purge of the entire family of Basha by Zimri:

  • Due to the prophecy of Yehu, the son of Chanani the prophet, the following occurred to the family of Basha, due to his own sins, and the sins he caused the Jewish people to sin.
  • His assassination by Zimri: Ela’s servant Zimri, who was one of the two captains who oversaw the chariots, conspired against Ela to kill him. While Ela was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk, Zimri came and killed him. Ela was drinking in the house of Arza who was [appointed] over the household in Tirzah, and there he was killed.
  • Elah was killed in the twenty seventh year of reign of Asa the king of Judah.
  • Zimri becomes king: Zimri reigned in his stead.
  • Zimri purges the royal family of Basha: When Zimir became king he annihilated the entire house of Basha, as Yehu had prophesied in the name of Hashem that would occur. There were no male survivors of his family, and nor did any of his friends or relatives survive. This was done as punishment for all the sins of Basha and the sins of Elah his son who sinned and caused Israel to sin and to anger G-d of Israel with idolatry.

 

3.      The legacy of Elah:

  • The remaining events of Elah and all that he accomplished are written in the book of Chronicles of the kings of Israel.

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