1 Kings 15 28

1 Kings 15:28 kjv

Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.

1 Kings 15:28 nkjv

Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.

1 Kings 15:28 niv

Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.

1 Kings 15:28 esv

So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place.

1 Kings 15:28 nlt

Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of King Asa's reign in Judah, and he became the next king of Israel.

1 Kings 15 verses

1 Kings 15 28 Meaning

This verse records the violent overthrow of King Nadab of Israel by Baasha, who then usurped the throne. This event occurred in the third year of King Asa's reign in Judah. It marks the abrupt end of the first Northern Kingdom dynasty, that of Jeroboam, due to their apostasy and sin.

1 Kings 15 28 Context

1 Kings chapter 15 vividly contrasts the two Israelite kingdoms. On one hand, King Asa of Judah begins his reign, initially seeking to purge idolatry and rebuild the kingdom, representing a more faithful adherence to the Davidic covenant. On the other, King Nadab of Israel continues the idolatrous practices of his father, Jeroboam, "walking in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin." This sets the stage for God's promised judgment against Jeroboam's house (1 Ki 14:7-11). The verse details the violent mechanism of this divine judgment, occurring while Nadab's forces were besieging Gibbethon, a Philistine city, providing a backdrop of military campaign where the internal power struggle unfolded. Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was characterized by chronic political instability, with numerous dynasties established through regicide and usurpation, often quickly succeeding each other, a stark contrast to the singular Davidic dynasty that endured in Judah for centuries.

1 Kings 15 28 Word analysis

• and Baasha (וּבַעְשָׁא, u·va'sha): The conjunction "and" connects this event directly to the preceding narrative of Nadab's siege. Baasha, from the tribe of Issachar, was not of Jeroboam's lineage. His name means "he lays waste" or "he tears down," possibly reflecting his actions. He was a conspirator who rose from within Nadab's army. His seizing of the throne initiated the second dynasty of the Northern Kingdom, confirming the instability inherent in Israel's leadership, which had strayed from the divine blueprint for kingship.
• killed him (וַיַּכֵּהוּ, vai·yak·ke·hu): The verb here is a strong one, meaning "struck down," "smote," or "killed." It denotes a decisive and violent act of regicide, an assassination rather than a battlefield casualty against an enemy. This immediate and brutal act highlights the political violence endemic to the Northern Kingdom, often the only means by which one king could succeed another when legitimacy through divine anointing or direct dynastic succession was lacking.
• in the third year of Asa (בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלֹשׁ לְאָסָא, bish·nat sha·losh lə·’ā·sā): This phrase serves as a crucial synchronizing chronological marker, tying the history of Israel to that of Judah. Asa's reign began around 913/912 BC, placing Nadab's overthrow around 910 BC. This early judgment against Jeroboam's house, so swiftly after Nadab inherited the throne, emphasizes the prompt and decisive nature of God's declared judgment against his idolatrous line, showing divine judgment often operates on a swift timeline, especially for those in positions of authority leading others astray.
• king of Judah (מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, me·lekh Yə·hū·ḏāh): Distinguishes Asa as the king of the Southern Kingdom, highlighting the co-existence and independent chronicling of the two divided monarchies. It subtly underscores the stability of the Davidic line in Judah compared to the volatile Northern Kingdom.
• and reigned in his place (וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו, vay·yim·lōḵ taḥ·tāw): This indicates Baasha's immediate assumption of power. It signifies a successful coup d'état, establishing a new regime through force. This phrase highlights the complete transfer of power and the successful, albeit violent, establishment of a new dynasty. The term "in his place" not only notes a spatial or positional replacement but also implies the immediate assumption of all kingly prerogatives and authority.

• "Baasha killed him... and reigned in his place": This phrase encapsulates the core event of regicide followed by usurpation. It showcases the unstable, often violent, and anti-dynastic nature of the Northern Kingdom's succession. It exemplifies the pattern of divine judgment enacted through human means, where ambitious men seize power, often fulfilling a prophetic word, but typically perpetuate the very sins that led to the downfall of their predecessors. This cycle demonstrates a departure from covenant loyalty.
• "in the third year of Asa king of Judah": This dating emphasizes the rapid demise of Jeroboam's house. Nadab's reign was very short, showing that divine judgment was swift and not delayed. The inclusion of Judah's king for chronological purposes also serves to silently contrast the frequent upheavals in Israel with the (comparatively) stable, divinely ordained Davidic line in Judah, providing an implicit theological commentary on the consequences of faithfulness versus unfaithfulness.

1 Kings 15 28 Bonus section

This act of Baasha's killing Nadab set a dark precedent and pattern for subsequent reigns in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Many kings who followed, such as Zimri and Pekah, would also ascend to the throne through violent overthrow and assassination, reflecting a profound lack of stability rooted in their abandonment of the covenant with Yahweh. This inherent instability prevented any long-term establishment of the Northern Kingdom in righteousness, contributing ultimately to its decline and eventual fall to Assyria. Even Baasha himself, though used as an instrument of divine judgment against Jeroboam, would fall into the same idolatrous patterns, leading to a similar prophecy of doom against his own house (1 Ki 16:1-4). This illustrates a recurring biblical theme: God may use a person to fulfill one aspect of His will, but that does not exonerate the person for their own unrighteous actions.

1 Kings 15 28 Commentary

1 Kings 15:28 serves as the fulfillment of the severe prophecy against Jeroboam's house, pronounced by the prophet Ahijah (1 Ki 14:10-11) for his profound sin of leading Israel into idolatry with the golden calves. Baasha's act, while motivated by personal ambition, became the divine instrument for cutting off Jeroboam's dynasty, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in justice. The violence of Nadab's death and Baasha's immediate ascension highlights the turbulent nature of the Israelite monarchy, a sharp contrast to the more stable (though not perfect) Davidic succession in Judah. This continuous cycle of usurpation, fueled by sin and unfaithfulness to God, marked the Northern Kingdom throughout its history, showcasing the dire consequences of abandoning the divine covenant and adopting pagan practices.