Baasha

Baasha was the third king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He ruled from 908 to 886 BC. He was a strong military leader who founded the second of Israel’s nine ruling families. Baasha was the son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar.

The Lord chose Baasha from among the common people to lead the army (1 Kings 16:2). While the Israelite army was attacking Gibbethon, where Philistines were living, Baasha killed King Nadab. He also wiped out all the family members of the former king, Nadab's father Jeroboam (1 Kings 15:27–29).

During his 24-year rule, Baasha fought against Asa, the king of Judah (1 Kings 15:16, 32).The conflict was mainly about controlling trade routes between Israel and Judah. To block trade with Jerusalem, Baasha built a stronghold at Ramah, which was north of Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:17, 21).

To counter this, Asa took all the silver and gold from the temple and his own palace and bribed King Ben-hadad of Syria to turn against Baasha (1 Kings 15:18–20). Ben-hadad then attacked several of Israel's northern cities and took land near the Jordan River. This made Baasha lose his resolve, and he withdrew from Judah’s borders (1 Kings 15:20–21).

The Bible gives a negative judgment of Baasha’s reign. Baasha “did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit” (1 Kings 15:34).

God sent the prophet Jehu to announce judgment against Baasha. Baasha had led Israel into sin and had made God angry. Therefore, God would destroy Baasha’s family. Dogs would eat those who died in the city, and birds would eat those who died in the fields (1 Kings 16:1–4).

After Baasha died, his son Elah became king. Within two years, Zimri killed Elah and took the throne. Zimri then killed every member of Baasha’s family, fulfilling the judgment God had announced through Jehu (1 Kings 16:8–13).

See also History of Israel; Books of First and Second Kings.