What is the significance of the dogs and birds eating those who died?(1 Kings 16:4)
16 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: 2 “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. 3 So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 4 Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.” 5 As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 6 Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.
1 Kings 16:4
ESV - 4 Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat.
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Asked July 06 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
I would say that the reference to dogs and birds eating the dead is meant to convey the deservedly shameful or ignominious manner in which the individuals spoken of will meet their end. All humans die, but the people described in the passage will be denied the peaceful death of someone with whom God is pleased, and will instead be subject to indignities and degradation even after they have died. (1 Kings 14:11 contains similar language regarding a previous king (Jeroboam).)
Jack Gutknecht
NET "Dogs will eat the members of Baasha’s family 1 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.” NET © Notes 1 tn Heb “the ones belonging to Baasha.” It meant that proper burial would be denied to Baasha and his house and that dogs and birds were allowed to scavenge their corpses. Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:11) and Ahab (1 Kings 21:24) received identical prophecies. Jezebel, you remember, suffered a similar fate (2 Ki 9:30-37). I.e. Baasha’s descendants would be slain and their corpses become food for the dogs and the vultures. For a Jew’s body not to be buried was a terrible form of humiliation.
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