Baasha’s Reign over Israel

15:33 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah; he ruled for twenty-four years. 15:34 He did evil in the sight of47 the Lord; he followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin.48

16:1 Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord this message predicting Baasha’s downfall:1 16:2 “I raised you up2 from the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. Yet you followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps3 and encouraged my people Israel to sin; their sins have made me angry.4 16:3 So I am ready to burn up5 Baasha and his family, and make your family6 like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16:4 Dogs will eat the members of Baasha’s family7 who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.”

16:5 The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.8 16:6 Baasha passed away9 and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah replaced him as king. 16:7 The prophet Jehu son of Hanani received from the Lord the message predicting the downfall of Baasha and his family because of all the evil Baasha had done in the sight of the Lord.10 His actions angered the Lord (including the way he had destroyed Jeroboam’s dynasty), so that his family ended up like Jeroboam’s.11