²⁷ Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down^(A) at Gibbethon,^(B) a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. ²⁸ Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.

²⁹ As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family.^(C) He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. ³⁰ This happened because of the sins^(D) Jeroboam had committed and had caused^(E) Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.

³¹ As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals^(F) of the kings of Israel? ³² There was war^(G) between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.

Baasha King of Israel

³³ In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah,^(H) and he reigned twenty-four years. ³⁴ He did evil^(I) in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

16 Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu^(J) son of Hanani^(K) concerning Baasha: ² “I lifted you up from the dust^(L) and appointed you ruler^(M) over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused^(N) my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. ³ So I am about to wipe out Baasha^(O) and his house,^(P) and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. ⁴ Dogs^(Q) will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds^(R) will feed on those who die in the country.”

⁵ As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals^(S) of the kings of Israel? ⁶ Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah.^(T) And Elah his son succeeded him as king.

⁷ Moreover, the word of the Lord came^(U) through the prophet Jehu^(V) son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam—and also because he destroyed it.

Elah King of Israel

⁸ In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.

⁹ Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk^(W) in the home of Arza, the palace administrator^(X) at Tirzah. ¹⁰ Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king.^(Y)

¹¹ As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, he killed off Baasha’s whole family.^(Z) He did not spare a single male, whether relative or friend. ¹² So Zimri destroyed the whole family of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken against Baasha through the prophet Jehu— ¹³ because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.^(AA)

Asa’s Last Years^(A)(B)

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha^(C) king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

² Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.^{(D) 3} “Let there be a treaty^(E) between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”

⁴ Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim^[a] and all the store cities of Naphtali.^{(F) 5} When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. ⁶ Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.^(G)

⁹ Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa^(A) had made as part of his defense^(B) against Baasha^(C) king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead.