(1) В¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, (2) Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; (3) Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. (4) Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.
It is remarkable that while Hanani the father was sent on a commission to the king of Judah, (See 2 Chronicles 16:7.) Jehu his son is here sent on a like errand of reproof to the king of Israel. But Reader! it becomes a more interesting remark of the gracious dealings of God with sinners when sending his faithful servants to such characters at all. Are not all the Lord's expostulations to this amount? "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, said the Lord God!" Ezekiel 18:32. And I beg the Reader to take notice of this further mark which those verses record of God's love, notwithstanding all the sin, and idolatry, and rebellion, of Israel, the Lord still calls them his people. I made thee prince over my people Israel. Oh the wonderful condescension and unparalleled grace of God!