Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:8
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chronicler records the northern succession immediately following Baasha’s death, synchronizing Israel’s timeline with the southern kingdom’s ruler Asa during a period of unstable dynastic transition.
The words — The narrative anchors the event with בִּ/שְׁנַ֨ת (bi/sh.Nat) to mark a precise year and מָ֠לַךְ (Ma.lakh) to denote the formal assumption of royal authority.
The thread — This regnal synchronization formula structures the Books of Kings, appearing in 1 Kings 15:25–28 to track Judah and Israel simultaneously and setting the chronological stage for the judgment pronounced in 1 Kings 16:7.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to note the exact duration of Elah’s rule and the political volatility that immediately precedes his assassination, framing human kingship as brief and subject to the narrative’s judgment pattern.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.