Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 16:1-14

"And the word of Jehovah came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 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; behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat. 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? And Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his stead. And moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Jehovah against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he smote him. In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, [and reigned] two years. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah: 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. And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he smote all the house of Baasha: he left him not a single man-child, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and wherewith they made Israel to sin, to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 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?" — 1 Kings 16:1-14 (ASV)

This chapter relates entirely to the kingdom of Israel and the revolutions of that kingdom. God still calls Israel His people, though wretchedly corrupted. Jehu foretells the same destruction to come upon Baasha's family that Baasha had been employed to bring upon the family of Jeroboam. Those who resemble others in their sins may expect to resemble them in the plagues they suffer, especially those who seem zealous against such sins in others as they allow in themselves.

Baasha himself dies in peace and is buried with honor. This plainly shows that there are punishments after death, which are most to be dreaded. Let Elah be a warning to drunkards, who do not know that death may surprise them. Death easily comes upon men when they are drunk.

Besides the diseases that men bring upon themselves by drinking, when in that state, they are easily overcome by an enemy and are liable to serious accidents. Death comes terribly upon men in such a state, finding them in the act of sin and unprepared for any act of devotion; that day comes upon them unexpectedly. The word of God was fulfilled, and the sins of Baasha and Elah were brought to account, with which they provoked God.

Their idols are called their vanities, because idols cannot profit or help; miserable are those whose gods are vanities.