Nadab
Summary
The second king of Israel who reigned only two years. He continued in his father's sins and was assassinated by Baasha during a military campaign, fulfilling Ahijah's prophecy that Jeroboam's entire family would be exterminated.
- Among the passages here, Nadab is first named in 1 Kings 15:25: “In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became…”
- The record places Nadab in Divided Kingdom.
- 21 verses name Nadab, in 5 books.
- 4 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.
1 Kings 15:26→- 4 key events in order
- 21 verses name Nadab, across 5 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 21
- Books
- 5
Nadab
- Role
- 2nd King of Israel
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 909–908 BC
- Tribe
- Israel
- Father
- Jeroboam I
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
- Continued Jeroboam's sins1 Kings 15:26And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.
- Siege of Gibbethon1 Kings 15:27Then 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.
- Assassinated by Baasha1 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.
- Jeroboam's dynasty exterminated1 Kings 15:29As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite,
Biography
Nadab became king of Israel after his father Jeroboam I and walked in the sins of his father, continuing the golden calf worship at Bethel and Dan. He reigned only two years before being killed by Baasha son of Ahijah of the tribe of Issachar during a military campaign against the Philistine city of Gibbethon. Baasha then wiped out the entire house of Jeroboam, fulfilling the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite.
Nadab's brief reign and violent end established the tragic pattern for Israel's kings — dynasty after dynasty would rise through assassination and fall the same way. He is a reminder that inherited sin has no future; the path of Jeroboam led nowhere but to destruction.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
None recorded
Weaknesses
Continuation of father's idolatry, failure to break the sinful pattern
Lessons
Inheriting someone else's sin requires a decision. Nadab chose his father's path and received his father's judgment. Every generation must personally reckon with the spiritual choices passed down to them.
Spiritual significance
Nadab's life illustrates that continuing in a parent's spiritual failures without repentance leads to the same destruction. He inherited both a throne and a sin, and chose to keep both. The sins of fathers do not automatically become the sins of sons — but when they are embraced rather than rejected, they carry the same consequences.
Nadab 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 Nadab. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament5 books · 21 mentions
Exodus4 mentions
- Exodus 6:23And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
- Exodus 24:1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.
- Exodus 24:9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
- Exodus 28:1“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.
Leviticus1 mention
Numbers4 mentions
- Numbers 3:2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- Numbers 3:4Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
- Numbers 26:60Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,
- Numbers 26:61but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
1 Kings5 mentions
- 1 Kings 14:20And the length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years, and he rested with his fathers, and his son Nadab reigned in his place.
- 1 Kings 15:25In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned two years.
- 1 Kings 15:27Then 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.
- 1 Kings 15:28In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place.
- 1 Kings 15:31As for the rest of the acts of Nadab, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
1 Chronicles7 mentions
- 1 Chronicles 2:29Nadab and Abishur. Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, and she bore to him Ahban and Molid.
- 1 Chronicles 2:30The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.
- 1 Chronicles 6:3The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 1 Chronicles 8:30and Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
- 1 Chronicles 9:36Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
2 further mentions in 1 Chronicles, read them in the book.
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