Baasha

Baasha was a king of the northern Kingdom of Israel in the Hebrew Bible. He is traditionally regarded as the fourth king of Israel, succeeding Nadab. According to 1 Kings, he was from the tribe of Issachar and rose to power by assassinating Nadab at Gibbethon, thereby seizing the throne and establishing his capital at Tirzah.

Baasha's reign lasted about 24 years (c. 909–886 BCE). The biblical account portrays him as continuing the policy of Jeroboam I by leading Israel in the sins associated with the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. He is said to have fortified Ramah to secure the northern frontier and to disrupt traffic between Israel and Judah. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the biblical narrative.

Baasha died in Tirzah and was succeeded by his son Elah. The dynasty of Baasha lasted only as long as Elah's short reign; it ended when Elah was murdered by Zimri, a conspirator from his army, after two years, and Omri eventually seized Tirzah and established the next Israelite dynasty.

In modern scholarship and Bible reference works, Baasha is primarily known from the books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. The narrative presents him as one of several northern kings who engaged in political consolidation and military fortification, with his reign serving to continue Jeroboam's religious and political patterns that critics view as contributing to Israel's continual instability.