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1 Kings 16 · Grade 5

A Downward Spiral

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Read and Think

Chapter 16 reads like a fast-moving list of failures. God's word through Jehu reminded Baasha that God had raised him from the dust, but he squandered that grace. His son Elah was struck down while drinking in a steward's house, and Zimri seized power. Zimri ruled seven days before the army proclaimed Omri king, and he died in the burning palace.

Omri was politically strong. He built Samaria, which remained Israel's capital until its fall. Assyrian records even called Israel the house of Omri. Yet the narrator gives him only a few verses, because Scripture measures kings by faithfulness to God, not by worldly success. Omri did more evil than all who were before him.

Ahab surpassed him. As if walking in Jeroboam's sins were a trivial thing, he married Jezebel of Sidon and made Baal worship official in Israel, building a temple for Baal in Samaria. The chapter ends with Hiel rebuilding Jericho at the cost of his firstborn and youngest sons, fulfilling Joshua 6:26. The darkness sets the stage for God to send a prophet. In the New Testament, Jesus asks what it profits a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life (Mark 8:36).

Show What You Know

  1. What did Assyrian records call Israel?

  2. Why does the narrator give Omri only a few verses?

  3. What verse was fulfilled when Jericho was rebuilt?

  4. What does Jesus ask in Mark 8:36 in the New Testament?

Crossword

321

Across

  1. Now the rest of the acts of ____.

Down

  1. And ____ his son reigned in his place.
  2. And ____ his son reigned in his place.

Think About It

  1. Omri was powerful, but God judged him by his faithfulness. What does God care about most in your life?

  2. When things were darkest, God was about to send Elijah. How does God work in dark times?

Memory Verse

“Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight above all that were before him.”

1 Kings 16:30 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for true kings. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How does God measure a king's life?
  • What does Mark 8:36 teach about the whole world?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.