Baasha was the third king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He seized power by killing King Nadab, son of Jeroboam, and wiped out the entire house of Jeroboam. He reigned for 24 years from Tirzah, but continued in the sins of Jeroboam by leading Israel into idolatry, which brought God's judgment upon his own dynasty.
Baasha conspired against King Nadab, son of Jeroboam, and killed him at Gibbethon while Israel was besieging a Philistine city. He then seized the throne over Israel.
27Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him and struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it.
After seizing power, Baasha wiped out the entire family of Jeroboam, fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet Ahijah concerning judgment on the house of Jeroboam.
29As soon as he was king, he struck down the entire house of Jeroboam. He left Jeroboam no one that breathed, until he had destroyed them all, according to the word the LORD had spoken through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite—
The Lord sent the prophet Jehu son of Hanani with a message of judgment against Baasha because he followed the sins of Jeroboam and provoked God to anger. God prophesied that Baasha's house would become like Jeroboam's house.
2"I lifted you out of the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel, but you walked in the way of Jeroboam and led my people Israel into sin, provoking me to anger with their sins.
Baasha marched up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent people from traveling to or from King Asa in Judah. This led Asa to seek help from the Arameans in Damascus.
1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel marched against Judah and fortified Ramah to cut off all traffic in and out for Asa king of Judah.
2Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house and sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who ruled in Damascus, with this message:
3"Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."