Baasha

(according to Fürst: courage, boldness) (1 Kings 15:16) — king of Israel. He was of the tribe of Issachar and of humble birth (1 Kings 15:27; 16:2). Having formed a conspiracy against Nadab, son of Jeroboam, Baasha treacherously killed him during the siege of Gibbethon, a Philistine city, and took his throne (vv. 27, 28). In fulfillment of the prophecy of Ahijah concerning the destruction of the whole house of Jeroboam, he left alive not one of the family of the wicked king (v. 29).

Beginning a war with Asa, king of Judah, he fortified Ramah, so as not to allow anyone either to leave Asa or to come to him (2 Chron. 16:1); but he had no success in this war, since some of his cities were conquered by Ben-hadad, king of Syria, who had formerly been his ally but now gave aid to Asa. Morally, Baasha was in no way better than Jeroboam, and the idol-worship introduced by the latter remained in full force; for this reason the Lord, through the prophet Jehu, declared to Baasha the same fate that, by the prophecy of Ahijah, had befallen the house of Jeroboam.

Twenty-four years after his accession to the throne, he died a natural death and was buried in the capital city of Tirzah; but the judgment of God upon his house was carried out by the hand of Zimri, who killed not only Elah, his son and heir, but destroyed the whole royal house (1 Kings 16:10, 11).