16:1-7 King Baasha receives a word from God through Jehu, son of Hanani: I lifted you from the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam. To each king, and person, God presents two things: what we were are offered and what we have done with it.
Regardless who we are, around us lie materials. Materials like opportunities, relationships, motivations and other such things which prompt us to choose what kind of person to be. Our materials are different and therefore our potential is different. We are not all kings but we all hold prominent positions according to God; the kingly and confident and the meek and humble.
God offers this commitment, the same He gives to Jeroboam and the kings in these chapters, to each of us: "if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you."
Baasha chooses not to heed God's commands, walk in His ways, do what is right in His sight or keep His commandments. As a result, a result not a punishment, his life crumbles around him. God does not expect perfection, He is well aware of our inability to be perfect. He is willing to accommodate our inefficiencies. But outright rejection and neglect of righteousness leaves those voids empty and liable to widen and deepen.
Baasha's entire life and posterity is swallowed by the void he allowed to fester.
16:8-14 Elah replaces his father as king. The prophecy against Baasha's posterity continues to be fulfilled. Elah is overthrown by his servant Zimri, commander of his chariots. It is easy for Zimri to dethrone and kill Elah because he is found inebriated in his home. 1 Peter 4:3 and Proverbs 20:1 speak of the laziness and non-productivity of inebriation. Elah inherited a broken people; he had the opportunity to restore but instead chose to do nothing.
Zimri kills the entirety of Baasha's household, relatives and friends.
16:15-20 Zimri is not a good man or king either. He is challenged by the people who instead choose to elect Omri, commander of the army as king. When Zimri realizes his imminent defeat, he burns down the king's house while inside of it and dies.
16:21-28 Israel continues to divide: half choose to support Tibni and the other half Omri. But Omri has a stronger force and eliminates Tibni. Omri reigns as king for twelve years. Omri is described to have done worse than the kings before him. Omri dies and his son Ahab becomes king.
16:29-33 Ahab reigns for twenty-two years, another evil king. None of these kings are able to lead the way God's prophets were able to. Their corrupt leadership continues to fray the tribes and tempt them further away from righteousness. Ahab marries Jezebel, a Sidonian and worships a false god, Baal.
Utter disregard of God causes the tribes of Israel to continue to destruct.
