Lives of Scripture
Baasha (M)
First named in 1 Kings 15:16-33
Baasha, son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar, conspired against King Nadab of Israel, killed him, and wiped out the entire house of Jeroboam -- fulfilling the prophet Ahijah's earlier judgment against Jeroboam's dynasty, though Scripture never excuses Baasha's own bloody ambition in carrying it out (1 Kings 15:27-29). He reigned twenty-four years from Tirzah, but "walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin," continuing the calf-worship that had led Israel into idolatry (1 Kings 15:33-34). Baasha warred continually with King Asa of Judah, and began fortifying Ramah to choke off Judah's border, until Asa emptied the temple treasury to bribe Ben-hadad of Aram into attacking Israel's northern territory, forcing Baasha to abandon the project (1 Kings 15:16-22; 2 Chronicles 16:1-6). For his sin, God sent the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to pronounce the same verdict on Baasha's house that had fallen on Jeroboam's: total destruction, his dead to be eaten by dogs and birds (1 Kings 16:1-4). Baasha died and was buried at Tirzah, succeeded briefly by his son Elah -- who, along with the rest of Baasha's family, was murdered within two years by Zimri, exactly as Jehu had prophesied (1 Kings 16:6-13). Baasha's reign is one of Kings' clearest illustrations that seizing power through violence, even against a corrupt line, does not itself produce a faithful king.
Thought for Today
Baasha killed his way to Israel's throne, wiping out Jeroboam's whole family, then simply repeated Jeroboam's own sin instead of turning the nation back to God. May we remember that Jesus's throne was not seized by violence but was freely given, and will never need replacing.
References: 1 Kings 15:16-33; 1 Kings 16:1-13; 1 Kings 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9; 2 Chronicles 16:1-6; Jeremiah 41:9
Genealogy
Connections
- Ahijah (M) — begot → Baasha (M)
- Baasha (M) — begot → Elah (M)
- Jehu (M) — prophesied against → Baasha (M)
The word of the LORD came to Jehu against Baasha, pronouncing that his entire house would be swept away for walking in Jeroboam's sins.
1 Kings 16:1-4; 1 Kings 16:7
- Ben-hadad (M) — attacked, forcing him to abandon his fort → Baasha (M)
King Asa of Judah bribed Ben-hadad of Aram to break his alliance with Baasha and attack Israel's northern territory instead, forcing Baasha to abandon his fortification of Ramah on Judah's border.
1 Kings 15:16-22
- Baasha (M) ↔ fortified Ramah to blockade Judah ↔ Asa (M)
Baasha warred continually with Asa and began fortifying Ramah to cut off Judah's border; Asa responded by emptying the temple treasury to bribe Ben-hadad of Aram into breaking his treaty with Israel and attacking Baasha's territory instead, forcing him to abandon the project.
1 Kings 15:16-22; 2 Chronicles 16:1-6
- Baasha (M) — assassinated him and seized his throne → Nadab (M)
While Nadab and Israel's army were besieging the Philistine city of Gibbethon, Baasha conspired against him, struck him down, and then wiped out the rest of Jeroboam's household, fulfilling the prophet Ahijah's earlier judgment against that dynasty.
1 Kings 15:27-29
Places
- Kingdom of Israel — its king, who wiped out the house of Jeroboam
1 Kings 15:27-29
- Tirzah — reigned over Israel from this city for twenty-four years
1 Kings 15:33