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Regicide

Regicide—the murder of a king—appears throughout Scripture as a grave sin against God's ordained authority, though God sometimes used it as judgment. These accounts demonstrate both the wickedness of those who took such actions and God's sovereign control over earthly rulers.

Overview

The Bible records several instances of regicide, including the assassination of King Elah by Zimri (1 Kings 16:9-11) and the deaths of various Judean and Israelite kings at the hands of conspirators. While some kings were wicked, Scripture consistently presents murder of the king as a violation of God's established order, even when God Himself had determined a king's downfall.

Key Scriptures

"So Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet" (1 Kings 16:12, ESV). "Then they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 24:21, ESV). "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will" (Proverbs 21:1, ESV).

Application

Believers should respect God-ordained authority while trusting that the Lord ultimately controls all rulers and will judge wickedness according to His perfect justice.

Scripture References 33
2 Kings 9:27 2 Kings 14:19 2 Kings 14:20 Judges 3:16 Judges 3:17 Judges 3:18 Judges 3:19 Judges 3:20 Judges 3:21 Judges 3:22 Judges 3:23 1 Kings 16:9 1 Kings 16:10 1 Kings 16:11 2 Samuel 4:5 2 Samuel 4:6 2 Samuel 4:7 2 Samuel 4:8 2 Kings 12:20 2 Kings 12:21 2 Kings 9:24 1 Kings 15:27 1 Kings 15:28 1 Kings 15:29 2 Kings 15:30 2 Kings 15:25 2 Samuel 1:16 2 Kings 19:36 2 Kings 19:37 Isaiah 37:37 Isaiah 37:38 2 Kings 15:14 2 Kings 15:10
Full Topical Reference List 33 total — Nave's Topical Bible

Of Ahaziah

2 Kings 9:27

Of Amaziah

2 Kings 14:19 2 Kings 14:20

Of Ehud

Judges 3:16 Judges 3:17 Judges 3:18 Judges 3:19 Judges 3:20 Judges 3:21 Judges 3:22 Judges 3:23

Of Elah

1 Kings 16:9 1 Kings 16:10 1 Kings 16:11

Of Ish-Bosheth

2 Samuel 4:5 2 Samuel 4:6 2 Samuel 4:7 2 Samuel 4:8

Of Joash

2 Kings 12:20 2 Kings 12:21

Of Joram

2 Kings 9:24

Of Nadab

1 Kings 15:27 1 Kings 15:28 1 Kings 15:29

Of Pekah

2 Kings 15:30

Of Pekahiah

2 Kings 15:25

Of Saul

2 Samuel 1:16

Of Sennacherib

2 Kings 19:36 2 Kings 19:37 Isaiah 37:37 Isaiah 37:38

Of Shallum

2 Kings 15:14

Of Zachariah

2 Kings 15:10
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