1. 1 Kings 15:27–16:7 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What do we learn about Baasha in 2 Chronicles 16:1-6?

1 Kings 15:27–16:7 (ESV)

27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.

The Bible book of 2 Chronicles deals almost exclusively with the history of the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom hardly comes into the picture. Baasha is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:1–6 in the context of the biography of King Asa of Judah. There Baasha attacks the neighbouring land of Judah, and King Asa then calls for Ben-hadad of Aram to help. This Ben-hadad was at first an ally of Baasha, but Asa of Judah offers enough gold and silver (from the treasuries of the temple of God) to get Ben-hadad on his side. Ben-hadad then attacks and captures some of the cities of the northern kingdom. Baasha then withdraws. This history gives an impression of the aggression between the northern and southern kingdoms. Both countries were in constant conflict with each other, see 1 Kings 15:32.