King Baasha

How He Became King: After assassinating Nadab
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 24 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Prophet: Jehu
Type of King: Evil
Death: Uncertain
Burial: Buried in Tirzah

Baasha became king by assassinating Nadab and seizing power:

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

Baasha put an end to Jeroboam’s royal line. When he seized power he killed the entire house of Jeroboam:

I 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:”

Baasha ruled over Israel for 24 years, and did evil. He committed the same sins as Jeroboam:

I 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.
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.”

Because of this, the Lord sent the prophet Jehu to tell Baasha that God was going to utterly destroy Baasha’s house, just as God had destroyed Jeroboam’s house:

I Kings 16:1: “Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
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;
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.
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.”

During Baasha’s reign, he waged war against Asa (the king of Judah):

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.”

Asa looted the Temple and used the money to pay the Syrians to attack Israel. When the Syrians did as Asa asked, Baasha abandoned Ramah and returned home:

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

When Baasha died, he was buried in Tirzah:

1 Kings 16:6: “So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.”

Elah his son then reigned in his stead.