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What the Bible Says About Baasha

Overview

The Bible addresses baasha across 28 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Asa, Kings, Anger and Ben-Hadad. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Asa, Jeroboam, Ahijah and Jehu.

Key Bible verses about baasha

Old Testament

1 Kings

1 Kings 15:16

And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

1 Kings 15:17

And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

1 Kings 15:18

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

1 Kings 15:19

There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. depart: Heb. go up

1 Kings 15:20

So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

1 Kings 15:21

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

1 Kings 15:22

Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. exempted: Heb. free

1 Kings 15:27

And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.

1 Kings 15:28

Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 15:29

And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:

1 Kings 15:30

Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.

1 Kings 15:31

Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

1 Kings 15:32

And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

1 Kings 15:33

In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

1 Kings 15:34

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 16:1

Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

1 Kings 16:2

Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;

1 Kings 16:3

Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

1 Kings 16:4

Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

1 Kings 16:5

Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

1 Kings 16:6

So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 16:7

And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 16:1

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 16:2

Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, Damascus: Heb. Darmesek

2 Chronicles 16:3

There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

2 Chronicles 16:4

And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. his: Heb. which were his

2 Chronicles 16:5

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

2 Chronicles 16:6

Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

People in the Bible and baasha

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying baasha for yourself

  • Begin with 1 Kings 15:16, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Asa, Jeroboam and Ahijah and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Asa, Kings, Anger and Ben-Hadad.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about baasha?

The Bible addresses baasha across 28 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Asa, Kings, Anger and Ben-Hadad. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Asa, Jeroboam, Ahijah and Jehu.

How many Bible verses are about baasha?

The Bible references baasha in 28 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention baasha?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is 1 Kings 15:16: “And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with baasha?

Asa, Jeroboam, Ahijah and Jehu.

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