Baasha

Baasha was the third king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who seized power around 909 BC by assassinating Nadab, son of Jeroboam I, while Nadab was besieging the Philistine city of Gibbethon (1 Kings 15:27–28). He then exterminated the entire house of Jeroboam, fulfilling a prophecy of Ahijah (1 Kings 15:29). He reigned twenty-four years and engaged in prolonged conflict with King Asa of Judah, fortifying Ramah to control traffic to Jerusalem (1 Kings 15:16–17). The prophet Jehu son of Hanani delivered an oracle against Baasha nearly identical to the one against Jeroboam, condemning him for walking in the same sins as the dynasty he had destroyed (1 Kings 16:1–7).