Baasha
“Boldness, or possibly wicked”
Summary
The third king of Israel and founder of its second dynasty, who seized the throne by conspiracy, destroyed Jeroboam's house, yet perpetuated the same idolatry he was raised to punish.
☩Rise to Power
Baasha was the son of Ahijah, of the tribe of Issachar, of humble origin—the prophet Jehu later reminded him that God had 'exalted him out of the dust.' He likely served as a military commander. While King Nadab, son of Jeroboam, was besieging the Philistine city of Gibbethon, Baasha conspired against him, killed him, and then systematically exterminated the entire house of Jeroboam. This fulfilled the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite against Jeroboam's idolatry.
☩Reign and Conflict with Judah
Baasha established his capital at Tirzah, a city renowned for its beauty. He engaged in persistent warfare against Asa, king of Judah, and began fortifying Ramah to control movement between the two kingdoms—preventing those who wished to worship at Jerusalem from leaving Israel. Asa responded by hiring Ben-hadad I of Damascus to invade northern Israel, forcing Baasha to abandon his fortification project. The materials from Ramah were carried off by Judah to build Geba and Mizpah.
☩Divine Judgment Pronounced
Despite being God's instrument to punish Jeroboam, Baasha walked in the same sinful path, maintaining the golden calf worship that separated Israel from true worship. The prophet Jehu son of Hanani delivered God's judgment: because Baasha made Israel sin as Jeroboam had, his house would share Jeroboam's fate—those dying in the city would be eaten by dogs, those in the field by birds. God condemned him 'because he killed' Nadab while harboring selfish ambition rather than righteous zeal.
☩Death and Legacy
Baasha reigned twenty-four years and was buried with honor in Tirzah. His son Elah succeeded him but reigned only two years before Zimri, one of his chariot commanders, conspired against him and killed him while he was drinking himself drunk. Zimri then destroyed the entire house of Baasha, not leaving one male relative or friend alive—retribution in kind for Baasha's own brutal seizure of power.
Related Verses26 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Baasha," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Baasha," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Baasha," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Baasha," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).