BAASHA, the Son of Abijah, Commander in chief of the Armies belonging to Nadab, the Son of Jeroboam King of IsraelIn the Year of the World 3051, before J. C. 994, before the vulgar Æra 953. 1 Kings xxv. 1. & seq.. He killed his master treacherously at the Siege of Gibbethon, a City of the Philistines, and usurped the Kingdom which he possessed for four and twenty years. He rooted out the whole race of Jeroboam, as God had commanded him; but by his bad conduct and idolatry, he incurr’d God’s indignation. Wherefore the Lord sent the Prophet Jehu, the Son of Hanani to him, to tell him, that he had exalted him out of the dust, and made him Prince over his people Israel, after which he had walked in the way of Jeroboam, and made his people Israel to sin. That therefore he would take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house house, and would make his house like the house of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat; that him, who died of Baasha, should the dogs eat, and him that died of his in the fields, should the fowls of the air eat. Baasha, instead of making good use of these admonitions, and becoming seriously converted, was transported with rage against the Prophet, and killed him. Baasha died, and was buried at In the Year of the World 3074, before J. C. 926, before the vulgar Æra 930.Tirzah, which was then the Capital of the Kingdom of the ten Tribes. Elah his Son reigned in his stead. We read a circumstance of Baasha’s reign in the Chronicles, which is not to be met with in the Books of Kings; and this is the attempt which Baasha made, 1 Kings xvi. 7, 8. 2 Chron. xvi. 1. & seq.to fortify Ramah against Asa King of Judah, who, in order to disengage him from this undertaking, prevailed with Benhadad King of Damascus to make an irruption upon the lands belonging to Baasha; which succeeded according to his expectation.
