Topical Bible: Israel: Defeat the King of Baasha

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The defeat of King Baasha of Israel is a significant event in the history of the divided monarchy, illustrating the complex interplay of political alliances and divine intervention. This episode is primarily recorded in the First Book of Kings and the Second Book of Chronicles, providing insight into the dynamics between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

Background

Baasha, son of Ahijah, became king over Israel after assassinating Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, and exterminating the entire house of Jeroboam, as prophesied by Ahijah the Shilonite (1 Kings 15:27-29). Baasha reigned over Israel for twenty-four years, from Tirzah, and continued in the sinful ways of Jeroboam, leading Israel into idolatry and provoking the LORD to anger (1 Kings 15:33-34).

Conflict with Judah

During Baasha's reign, Asa was the king of Judah. The two kingdoms were often at odds, and Baasha sought to fortify Ramah, a strategic location near the border, to prevent any movement into or out of Judah (1 Kings 15:17). This act of aggression prompted Asa to seek assistance from Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria), who resided in Damascus.

Alliance with Aram

Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the LORD's temple and the royal palace and sent them to Ben-Hadad, asking for a treaty to break Baasha's alliance with Aram. Ben-Hadad agreed and sent his commanders against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all the land of Naphtali (1 Kings 15:18-20).

Baasha's Defeat

With Aram's intervention, Baasha was forced to abandon his fortification of Ramah. King Asa then summoned all of Judah to carry away the stones and timber Baasha had used, and with these materials, Asa fortified Geba and Mizpah (1 Kings 15:21-22).

Prophetic Judgment

The prophet Jehu, son of Hanani, delivered a message from the LORD to Baasha, condemning him for walking in the ways of Jeroboam and leading Israel into sin. The LORD declared that Baasha's house would suffer the same fate as Jeroboam's, with his lineage being cut off (1 Kings 16:1-4).

Aftermath

Baasha's reign ended with his death, and he was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah succeeded him as king. However, the prophecy against Baasha's house was fulfilled when Zimri, one of Elah's officials, conspired against him and killed him, thus exterminating Baasha's lineage (1 Kings 16:6-13).

Theological Implications

The defeat of Baasha underscores the biblical theme of divine sovereignty and judgment. Despite political maneuvers and alliances, the ultimate outcome aligns with God's prophetic word. The narrative serves as a reminder of the consequences of idolatry and disobedience to God's commandments, as well as the futility of opposing His divine will.

Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 21:33-35
And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
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Deuteronomy 3:1-17
Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
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Library

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Jehoshaphat; How Joram, His Namesake, King Of Israel, Fought With The ... 5. Concerning
The Wickedness Of Jehoram King O Jerusalem; His Defeat And Death. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Later Hebrew Histories.
... it purports to have been composed by King Solomon ... catalogue of all the great worthies
of Israel; he has ... by telephone, and asked him how he explained the defeat. ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vi the later hebrew.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... at a subsequent date of the Edomite king Hadad "who ... After their defeat by Gideon,
however, we hear of ... raiding bands never approached the frontiers of Israel. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... he explains, "a degenerate people, you differ in nothing from your king Ahab." We ...
It is evident that we can here think only of the defeat of Israel by the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... David sole king, and the final defeat of the ... the XXIInd (Bubastite) dynasty"Sheshonq
I. as king and his ... the repeated changes of dynasty in Israel"Asa and ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Appendices
... of Israel. ... OR AMMURAPI (THE AMRAPHEL OP Genesis 14:1) TO SIN-IDINNAM, KING OF LARSA ...
of Emudbalum restored your courage to you on the day of the defeat of Kudur ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... his son, the young Azariah.** After the defeat of Ben ... influential family in either
Judah or Israel, a chief ... xvi.6), where "King Asa made a proclamation unto all ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm