Lives of Scripture

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.