Bible Strands
1 Kings 15:21
When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Baasha reacts to Ben-hadad’s successful campaign against Israel’s northern cities. This moment occurs between Asa’s diplomatic alliance with Aram and the subsequent dismantling of Baasha’s works.
The words — כִּ/שְמֹ֣עַ (ki/sh.Mo.a') translates literally as “when heard,” marking the trigger for Baasha’s decision. וַ/יֶּחְדַּ֕ל (va/i.yech.Dal) means “and he ceased,” indicating an abrupt halt to the construction project.
The thread — The verse connects Baasha’s initial campaign to fortify Ramah (1 Kings 15:17) with Asa’s later removal of its stones and timbers (1 Kings 15:22). Baasha’s withdrawal to Tirzah aligns with the city’s established function as a northern royal base (1 Kings 14:17; 16:15).
Why it lands — It records a tactical retreat dictated by external military pressure rather than internal policy. The text demands recognition that human fortifications are subject to immediate reversal when geopolitical circumstances shift.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 14:17 Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died.
- 1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines,
- 1 Kings 15:17 Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 16:5 When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work.
- Song of Solomon 6:4 You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners.