Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

He slew all the house of Baasha - He endeavored to exterminate his race, and blot out his memory; and the Jews say, when such a matter is determined, they not only destroy the house of the person himself, but the five neighboring houses, that the memory of such a person may perish from the earth.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends - Zimri‘s measures were of much more than ordinary severity. Not only was the royal family extirpated, but the friends of the king, his councillors and favorite officers, were put to death. Omri, as having been in the confidence of the late monarch, would naturally fear for himself, and resolve to take the course which promised him at least a chance of safety.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it came to pass when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne,.... Perhaps the very first day,

that he slew all the house of Baasha; his whole family, all the children that he had, that there might be none to make pretensions to the throne:

he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks nor of his friends; not any that might avenge the blood of his family, that might have a right or inclination to do it.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

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.

Kinfolks — Heb. avengers; to whom it belonged to revenge his death.

Scofield's Reference Notes

kinsfolks Heb. "goel," Redemp. (Kinsman type). (See Scofield "Isaiah 59:20").

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 16:11 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.

Ver. 11. As soon as he sat on his throne.] He laid about him lustily: for the seven days’ space only of his reign.

Neither of his kinsfolks nor of friends.] As resolving to leave never a rub to lie in the way that might binder the true running of his bowl.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Kinsfolks, Heb. avengers; to whom it belonged to revenge his death: see Numbers 35:12.

Nor of his friends; his confidants and familiar acquaintance, such as were most likely to hinder his settlement in the throne, and to avenge their friend’s quarrel.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Wall. See 1 Kings xxv. 22. --- Friends, from whom he had any thing to fear. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

not one, &c. = not one male.

kinsfolks = kinsmen-redeemers.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he slew

15:29; Judges 1:7

he left him

14:10; 1 Samuel 25:22,34

neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends

or, both his kinsmen and his friends.