1 Kings Politics Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #7

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house, and […] sent them to King Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying, 'Let there be an alliance between me and you, like that between my father and your father: I am sending you a present of silver and gold; go, break your alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so that he may withdraw from me.' Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. (NRSV 15:18-20)

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house, and […] sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. (KJV 15:18-20)

Here we've got a classic case of the almighty dollar's influence on political allegiances. You've got a treaty with that other guy? No problem—here, have some treasure. Can you help me attack him now? Great. Could this be at least part of why Solomon—not to mention quite a few modern statesmen—was such a great politician?

Quote #8

In the twenty-sixth year of King Asa of Judah, Elah son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah; he reigned for two years. 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 in charge of the palace at Tirzah, Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa of Judah, and succeeded him. When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he killed all the house of Baasha; he did not leave him a single male of his kindred or his friends. (NRSV 16:8-11)

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. 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. 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 slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. (KJV 16:8-11)

This illustrates the sorry state of politics during the period between Solomon and Elijah. Whoever kills the king gets to take the crown? That doesn't seem stable to us. Is it any wonder that these times produced Ahab, the worst king in all of 1st Kings?