Baasha comes to rule the northern kingdom Israel, through a violent coup in which he slaughters all Jeroboam’s descendents so that not one of the royal family was left.15:29.Baasha ia not from any royal line, yet God raised him from the dust 16:2 to be an instrument of divine punishment against the house of Jeroboam.

This act fulfilled Ahijah’s prophecy against Jeroboam.14:9-11. However Baasha went beyond the words of prophecy since 14:10 specified judgement only on every male, while Baasha killed all men, women and children.

God judged Baasha and his house because he followed the sinful paths of Jeroboam .He faced the same humilating judgement Jeroboam had 14:10,11. Baasha’s family was totally annihilated by zimri, and their corpses scavenged by hungry dogs and birds

Thus Baasha having been chosen to bring judgement was himself punished.The standards of justice apply to all without exception.

Cynthia Sathiaraj
Chennai