Michiana Covenant Presbyterian Church

Have you heard of the "year of the four emperors"? In AD 69, there were four different emperors who ruled in Rome. After Nero's suicide in AD 68, there were four men who reigned in the next few months: Galba (reigned for six months – assassinated in January), Otho (committed suicide after losing a key battle in April), Vitellius (killed by a mob in December), and Vespasian, who finally restored some semblance of order. This is pretty much the story of 1 Kings 16. After Baasha died, Elah reigned for "two years" (which could mean as little as two months, since it just means "parts of two years"). Elah was a drunken fool who preferred drinking parties to governing well, and so Zimri struck him down and reigned in his place. But Zimri only reigned for seven days – and then he committed suicide when he saw that Omri had the support of the people. But Omri only had support of half the people – and so Israel was divided for four years (between 27th and the 31st years of Asa, King of Judah)...