Baasha
Summary
The third king of Israel who came to power by assassinating Nadab and exterminating Jeroboam's dynasty. He warred extensively with King Asa of Judah, fortified Ramah, and had the prophet Jehu son of Hanani prophesy his own dynasty's doom for the same sins as Jeroboam.
- Among the passages here, Baasha is first named in 1 Kings 15:16: “Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.”
- The record places Baasha in Divided Kingdom.
- 28 verses name Baasha, in 4 books.
- 5 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
“Even though I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin and to provoke Me to anger by their sins.
1 Kings 16:2-3→- 5 key events in order
- 28 verses name Baasha, across 4 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 28
- Books
- 4
Baasha
- Role
- 3rd King of Israel
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 908–886 BC
- Tribe
- Israel / Tribe of Issachar
- Father
- Ahijah
- Children
- Elah
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Killed Nadab and seized throne1 Kings 15:27-28Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city.
- Perpetual war with Asa of Judah1 Kings 15:32And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.
- Fortified Ramah1 Kings 15:17Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- Asa bribed Syria against him1 Kings 15:18-20So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus:
- Jehu's prophecy against Baasha1 Kings 16:1-4Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha, saying:
Biography
Baasha was from the tribe of Issachar and became king by killing Nadab during the siege of Gibbethon and then eliminating all of Jeroboam's family — fulfilling the prophecy of Ahijah against Jeroboam, though Baasha acted from ambition rather than obedience. His 24-year reign was marked by constant war with Judah's King Asa.
He began fortifying Ramah to cut off traffic to Jerusalem, which alarmed Asa enough that Asa bribed the king of Syria to attack northern Israel, forcing Baasha to withdraw. Despite being God's instrument of judgment against Jeroboam's house, Baasha walked in all the same sins of Jeroboam.
The prophet Jehu son of Hanani therefore pronounced the same judgment on Baasha's house as had befallen Jeroboam's — his line would be consumed just as he had consumed Jeroboam's.
“Even though I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over My people Israel, you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin and to provoke Me to anger by their sins.
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Military strength, long reign of 24 years, eliminated a corrupt dynasty
Weaknesses
Same idolatry as Jeroboam, constant warfare, became what he destroyed
Lessons
Being God's instrument of judgment does not make us righteous. Baasha served as God's rod against Jeroboam but then walked in Jeroboam's ways and received Jeroboam's fate. God's use of us in one moment does not excuse our sins in another.
Spiritual significance
Baasha was used by God as an instrument of judgment but was not exempt from judgment himself. Being the tool of divine justice does not make one righteous. He repeated the exact sins of the man he destroyed and received the exact same sentence.
Baasha in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Baasha. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament4 books · 28 mentions
1 Kings22 mentions
- 1 Kings 15:16Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their days.
- 1 Kings 15:17Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- 1 Kings 15:19“Let there be a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”
- 1 Kings 15:21When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.
- 1 Kings 15:22Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.
17 further mentions in 1 Kings, read them in the book.
2 Kings1 mention
2 Chronicles4 mentions
- 2 Chronicles 16:1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 16:3“Let there be a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”
- 2 Chronicles 16:5When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work.
- 2 Chronicles 16:6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.
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