Baasa (Heb. Ba’shâ+, perhaps “seeker”; Cun. Ba+sa, a king of Amun). Third ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel. He reigned 24 years (c 909-c 886 BC). He was the son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, and seized the throne by assassinating King Nadab during the siege of the Philistine city of Gibeton (1Ki 15:27,28). His reign was marked by wickedness (v 34) and continual warfare against the southern kingdom (v 32). One of the first acts of his rule was to exterminate all other relatives of Jeroboam 1, thus fulfilling Ahijah’s prediction (vs 29,30; 14:10,11). His attempt to strengthen Rama as a military stronghold within the territory of Judah failed when Asa of Judah hired Ben-hadad 1 of Damascus against him (1Ki 15:16-21; 2Ch 16:1-6). The prophet Jehu predicted the extermination of the Baasha dynasty (1Ki 16:1-4).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
(Heb., ba†™sha, boldness). The son of Ahijah, of the tribe of Issachar. He became the third king of Israel, assassinating his predecessor. He exterminated the house of Jeroboam and made Tirzah his capital. He ascended the throne in the third year of Asa, King of Judah (1 Kings 15-16), and waged a long war with him.
Baasha continued the calf cult started by Jeroboam. After a reign of 24 years, he died a natural death and was succeeded by his son Elah who, along with every member of the house of Baasha, was killed by Zimri (1 Kings 15-16).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(Baal hears). Third king of Israel (Northern Kingdom). While † ¢ Nadab son of † ¢ Jeroboam was besieging the Philistine city of Gibeton, B. conspired against him and killed him, and reigned in his place. He immediately † œslew all the house of Jeroboam, leaving no living soul…according to the word which the LORD spoke through his servant Ahijah…† (1Ki 15:26-29). B. reigned twenty-four years but “did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of Jeroboam” (1Ki 15:34), for which God foretold him through the prophet “Jehu, son of Hanani, that would not prosper (1 Kings 16:17). His reign was characterized by a permanent war against † ¢ Asa, king of Judah (1 Kings 15:32).
B. attempted to fortify †¢Ramah †so that King Asa king of Judah would not let anyone go in or out† (2Ch 16:1). Ramah was about 6 km from Jerusalem. B. wanted to prevent people from Israel (Northern Kingdom) from going to worship at the †¢temple, because of the possible political consequences of doing so. It is possible that this was motivated by the spiritual revival that took place during the reign of †¢Asa in Jerusalem (2Ch 15:1-15). But King Asa made an alliance with †¢Ben-hadad, king of Syria so that he would attack Israel (Northern Kingdom), which happened. † œWhen B. heard this, he ceased to build Ramah, and forsook his work † (2Ch 16:26). After B.’s death his son † ¢ Elah reigned only two years and was assassinated by † ¢ Zimri (1Ki 16: 8-10).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
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vet, = “recklessness” (Heb.). Son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar. Conspired against Nadab king of Israel, killed him and all the royal family, and reigned in his place, 953-930 BC It was according to the word of the Lord through the prophet Ahijah, that all the descendants of Jeroboam would be destroyed, due to his wickedness. But Baasha fared no better, and his posterity fell under similar judgment (1 Kings 15:16-33; 16:1-13; 21:22; 2 Kings 9:9; 2 Chron. 16:1- 6; Jer 41:9).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Third king of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel; son of Ahiya, of the tribe of Issachar, and of humble origins. He usurped the throne by killing his predecessor, Nadab, after which he brought down the entire house of Jeroboam, as prophesied. (1Ki 15: 27-30; 14:10) However, he continued to worship calves like Jeroboam, and for this reason his house was also foretold to be exterminated. (1Ki 16:1-4) When Baasha made war against Judah, Asa induced the king of Syria to harass the king of Israel from the N., and then razed the fortified city of Ramah, a city that Baasha was building at that time . (1Ki 15:16-22; 2Ch 16:1-6; see AS No. 1.) After reigning from 975 to 953 B.C. CE, Baasha died and was buried in his capital, Tirzah. His son Elah came to the throne in the twenty-sixth year of Asa the king of Judah (1Ki 16:8), but in the twenty-seventh year of Asa (1Ki 16:15), Zimri rebelled and annihilated the house of Baasha, thus fulfilling the word of Jehovah.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
(in °vrv3 “Ba(a)sá”). Founder of the short second dynasty of northern Israel (ca. 900–880 BC). Although he was of humble origin (1 Kings 16.2), Baasha usurped the throne after assassinating Nadab, son of Jeroboam I, during the siege of the Philistine city of Gibetón (1 Kings 15.27ff). By exterminating the entire house of Jeroboam he fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy (1 Kings 16.5ff). There was active hostility between Israel and Judah constantly during the 24 years of his reign (1 Kings 15.32). His provocative action in fortifying Ramah, 6 km N of Jerusalem, caused Asa to appeal to Syria for support. He continued the religious policy of Jeroboam and earned a harsh prophetic rebuke (1 Kings 16.1ff.).
JCJW
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary