Baasha, the third king of the northern kingdom of Israel, reigned for 24 years, from approximately 909 to 886 BC. His reign is chronicled in 1 Kings 15:33–16:7. Baasha came to power by overthrowing Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, and subsequently exterminated the entire house of Jeroboam, fulfilling the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite (1 Kings 15:29). Baasha's reign was marked by continued idolatry and conflict with the southern kingdom of Judah.

Baasha's actions were displeasing to the LORD, as he "did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit" (1 Kings 15:34). Consequently, the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani, delivered a message from God condemning Baasha for his sins and foretelling the destruction of his house, similar to the fate of Jeroboam's lineage (1 Kings 16:1-4).

Baasha's death is recorded in 1 Kings 16:6: "And Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and his son Elah reigned in his place" . His burial in Tirzah, the capital of the northern kingdom at the time, signifies the end of his dynasty's brief prominence.

Elah, the son of Baasha, ascended to the throne of Israel following his father's death. His reign, however, was short-lived, lasting only two years (1 Kings 16:8). Elah's rule is characterized by indulgence and negligence, as he is described as being in a state of drunkenness when he was assassinated by Zimri, one of his own military commanders (1 Kings 16:9-10). This act of treachery occurred while Elah was in Tirzah, further emphasizing the instability and moral decline within the kingdom.

Zimri's coup resulted in the extermination of Baasha's entire family, fulfilling the prophecy delivered by Jehu. "So Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet" (1 Kings 16:12). This violent end to Baasha's lineage underscores the divine judgment pronounced upon those who lead Israel into sin and idolatry.

The brief and tumultuous reign of Elah serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from the LORD and the inevitable downfall that follows leaders who perpetuate the sins of their predecessors. The narrative of Baasha and Elah highlights the cyclical nature of disobedience and divine retribution in the history of the northern kingdom of Israel.