Bible Strands
1 Kings 15:34
And Baasha 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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Baasha’s coronation in Tirzah and his immediate spiritual posture at the start of his twenty-four-year reign. The account situates his rule chronologically during the third year of King Asa’s reign over Judah.
The words — The Hebrew וַיַּעַשׂ (va.i.Ya.'as) translates literally to "and he did," paired with הָרַע (ha.Ra') for "the evil," documenting concrete action rather than abstract rebellion. The phrase בְּדֶרֶךְ (be./De.rekh) means "in the way of," indicating Baasha’s deliberate adoption of Jeroboam’s established religious and political path.
The thread — This condemnation formula repeats in 1 Kings 15:26, where Baasha’s successor is accused of walking in his father’s way and sin. The narrative directly fulfills the warning in 1 Kings 14:16 that Israel would be abandoned because of the sins Jeroboam committed and caused Israel to commit.
Why it lands — The text establishes that political succession does not erase covenant failure, as Baasha institutionalized the idolatry Jeroboam introduced. A reader must confront how leadership that normalizes rebellion against divine command locks a nation into a repeating cycle of judgment.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 15:26 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit.
- 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
- 1 Kings 14:16 So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”
- 1 Kings 13:33 Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places.
- Isaiah 1:4 Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.