Baaseiah (Hastings' Dictionary)

A Koliathite (1 Ch 0"). BAASHA (Kyi'3), son of Ahijah, of the tribe of Issachar. He seems to have been of lowly origin, as the prophet Jehu describes him as having been exalted out of the dust' (1 K 1«=). When Nadab, eon of Jeroboam I., was besieging the Philistine town of Gibbethon, Baasha conspired against him and slew him. He also exterminated all the seed of Jeroboam, thus fullilling the sentence pronounced by Ahijah the Sliilonite. Ascending the throne of the ten northern tribes about B.C.

914, he reigned for twenty four years. His reign was that of a restless and warlike adventurer. He carried on a long war with Asa, king of Judah. Unable to wiliistand him, Asa purchased the help of Ben- hadad, king of Syria, who invaded the northern frontiers of Israel, and captured several towns. This drew Baasha away from the work in which he had been engaged, the building of a fort called Ramah, to blocKade the north of Judah.

Asa led his forces against Ramah and destroyed it, using the materials to build the towns of Geba and Mizpah (1 K lo^-^S 2 Ch IG'-*). (See AsA.) In matters of reli^on Baasha did not profit by the warning given in the destruction of Jeroboam and his house, but followed his evil example in main- taining the calf, worship. On this account the same fate was denounced against his house by the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani ( 1 K 16^).

He himself, however, died a natural death, and was buried in Tirzah, his capital. Elah, his son, succeeded him on the throne (16^). R. M. BoYD.