Our chapter depicts the instability of the Northern kingdom. Each house of royalty is brought to an abrupt end by bloody assassinations, as opportunists seize the throne time after time. If God approved of Basha’s act of deposing the royal House of Yerovam, then why is Basha condemned later for the self same act? Was it divinely ordained and approved or was it an act of evil? Does the fact that this result was decreed by God free Basha from responsibility? The choice of Shomron as the capital by Omri puts the capital on the main trade route from north to south.