| Baasha | |
|---|---|
 Baasha from "Guillaume Rouillé'sPromptuarii Iconum Insigniorum | |
| King of Israel (Northern Kingdom) | |
| Reign | 909–886 BCE |
| Predecessor | Nadab |
| Successor | Elah |
Baasha (Hebrew:בַּעְשָׁא,Baʿšāʾ) was, according to theHebrew Bible, the third king of the northernIsraeliteKingdom of Israel. He was the son ofAhijah of theTribe of Issachar. Baasha's story is told in1 Kings 15:16–16:7.
Baasha became king of Israel in the third year ofAsa, king of Judah. (1 Kings 15:28)William F. Albright has dated his reign to 900–877 BCE, whileE. R. Thiele offers the dates 909–886 BCE.[1] Baasha came to power by murdering the previous king,Nadab, atGibbethon, followed by the entire House ofJeroboam (Nadab's father and predecessor). Baasha had previously been acaptain in Nadab's own army. Like many military leaders, he appears to have risen from obscurity. TheJewish Encyclopedia suggests that because he came from thetribe of Issachar, "he may have represented a local faction".[2]
Over the course of his 24-year reign,[3] Baasha was at war with Asa, king of Judah. He allied Israel withAram and endeavored to strangleJudah's trade by fortifyingRamah, a city five miles north ofJerusalem.[4] KingAsa of Judah then bribed KingBen-hadad ofSyria to switch sides and attack Israel, prompting the loss of extensive territory inDan andNaphtali northwest of theSea of Galilee. Baasha was forced to withdraw from Ramah. Asa of Judah utilized the materials of the abandoned fort for the fortification of his own frontier towns,Geba andMizpah.[2]
Though Baasha remained in power for life, he was not without his opponents. The prophetJehu, the son ofHanani, foretold the destruction of his dynasty, which came to pass with theassassination of Baasha's sonElah.
Baasha of Israel | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Israel 909–886 BCE | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
