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== Accession by assassination ==

== Accession by assassination ==

Baasha was a general in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) army. At the siege of [[Gibbethon]], Baasha formed a conspiracy against [[King Nadab]] and murdered him. He then systematically exterminated everyone in Nadab's family, and in the extended family of [[Jeroboam I]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=15|verses=27-34}}</ref> This fulfilled an earlier prophecy by [[Ahijah the Shulamite]] against Jeroboam. Baasha continued on the throne for twenty-four years.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/>

Baasha was a general in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) army. At the siege of [[Gibbethon]], Baasha formed a conspiracy against [[King Nadab]] and murdered him. He then systematically exterminated everyone in Nadab's family, and in the extended family of [[Jeroboam I]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=15|verses=27-34}}</ref> This fulfilled an earlier prophecy by [[Ahijah the Shulamite]] against Jeroboam. Baasha continued on the throne for twenty-four years.<ref name=Columbia/><ref name=Konig/>

Among his first acts was to remove his capital from [[Shechem]] to [[Tirzah]].<ref name=WebBible>Authors unknown. "[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/baasha.html Entry for Baasha]." WebBible Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 20, 2007.</ref> He had one son, [[Elah]], who eventually would succeed him, though not for long.

Among his first acts was to remove his capital from [[Shechem]] to [[Tirzah]].<ref name=WebBible>Authors unknown. "[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/baasha.html Entry for Baasha]." WebBible Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 20, 2007.</ref> He had one son, [[Elah]], who eventually would succeed him, though not for long.

== The Ramah Skirmish ==

== The Ramah Skirmish ==

In the fourteenth year of his reign, Baasha began to fortify the city of [[Ramah]], in an attempt to stem the tide of defections from his kingdom to the [[Southern Kingdom]], then under King [[Asa]]. Asa paid an enormous bribe to King [[Benhadad I]] of [[Syria]], and Benhadad then broke his own treaty with Baashs and attacked several Northern Kingdom cities. Benhadad destroyed the cities of [[Ijon]] in the tribal province of [[Asher (tribe)|Asher]], the city of [[Dan (city)]] in the tribal province of [[Dan (tribe)|Dan]], [[Abelbethmaachah]] in the tribal province of [[Manasseh (tribe)]], the borders of [[Chinnereth]], and practically every city of any size in [[Naphthali (tribe)|Naphthali]]. Baasha then had to leave off fortifying Ramah to defend against any further incursions. Subsequently, Asa drafted a large labor force and dismantled Ramah completely.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=16|verses=1-14}}</ref><ref name=Columbia/>

In the fourteenth year of his reign, Baasha began to fortify the city of [[Ramah]], in an attempt to stem the tide of defections from his kingdom to the [[Southern Kingdom]], then under King [[Asa]]. Asa paid an enormous bribe to King [[Benhadad I]] of [[Syria]], and Benhadad then broke his own treaty with Baashs and attacked several Northern Kingdom cities. Benhadad destroyed the cities of [[Ijon]] in the tribal province of [[Asher (tribe)|Asher]], the city of [[Dan (city)]] in the tribal province of [[Dan (tribe)|Dan]], [[Abelbethmaachah]] in the tribal province of [[Manasseh (tribe)]], the borders of [[Chinnereth]], and practically every city of any size in [[Naphthali (tribe)|Naphthali]]. Baasha then had to leave off fortifying Ramah to defend against any further incursions. Subsequently, Asa drafted a large labor force and dismantled Ramah completely.<ref name=Columbia/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=16|verses=1-14}}</ref>

== A Baleful Prophecy ==

== A Baleful Prophecy ==

Baasha indulged in idolatry just as much as Jeroboam I had done. Because of that, the prophet [[Jehu (prophet)|Jehu]], son of [[Hanani]], foretold that [[God]] would some day have meted out to him the exact same kind of rough justice that he had meted out to Jeroboam's family.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=16|verses=1-10}}</ref><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Konig/>

Baasha indulged in idolatry just as much as Jeroboam I had done. Because of that, the prophet [[Jehu (prophet)|Jehu]], son of [[Hanani]], foretold that [[God]] would some day have meted out to him the exact same kind of rough justice that he had meted out to Jeroboam's family.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=WebBible/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Kings|chap=16|verses=1-10}}</ref>

== Death and Succession ==

== Death and Succession ==

Baasha died in 930 BC (Ussher) after a twenty-four-year reign and was buried in Tirzah. His son [[Elah]] reigned in his stead.<ref name=Konig/><ref name=Columbia/>

Baasha died in 930 BC (Ussher) after a twenty-four-year reign and was buried in Tirzah. His son [[Elah]] reigned in his stead.<ref name=Columbia/><ref name=Konig/>

== Related References ==

== Related References ==

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== See Also ==

== See also ==

* [[Northern Kingdom]]

* [[Northern Kingdom]]

* [[Asa]]

* [[Asa]]

[[Category:Kings of Israel]]

[[Category:Kings of Israel]]