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1 Kings 15:21

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And it came to pass, when Baasha heard [thereof], that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

And it came to pass, when Baasha {H1201} heard {H8085} thereof, that he left off {H2308} building {H1129} of Ramah {H7414}, and dwelt {H3427} in Tirzah {H8656}.

As soon as Ba'sha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and stayed in Tirtzah.

When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

Commentary

1 Kings 15:21 records a significant shift in the military strategy of King Baasha of Israel, compelled by the actions of King Asa of Judah. This verse marks a turning point in a specific conflict between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.

Context of 1 Kings 15:21

This verse is set during a period of intense rivalry between the divided kingdoms of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom). King Baasha of Israel had been aggressively fortifying Ramah, a strategically vital border town located just five miles north of Jerusalem. His aim was to create a stronghold that would effectively blockade Judah and prevent movement in and out of its capital. However, King Asa of Judah, facing this threat, devised a counter-strategy. He formed a powerful alliance with Ben-hadad, the king of Syria (Aram), by sending him silver and gold from the temple treasury and his own palace (1 Kings 15:19). When Ben-hadad subsequently attacked Israel's northern cities, including Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maachah, and all Chinneroth, along with the land of Naphtali (1 Kings 15:20), Baasha was forced to react swiftly.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Strategic Warfare and Adaptation: The verse vividly illustrates the dynamic nature of ancient warfare and geopolitics. Baasha's decision to abandon his project at Ramah and retreat to Tirzah highlights the necessity of quick adaptation and strategic re-evaluation in the face of unexpected threats. His initial offensive posture was immediately replaced by a defensive one.
  • Consequences of Alliances: Asa's bold move to form an alliance with Syria directly impacted Baasha's plans, demonstrating how external forces and alliances could drastically alter internal conflicts.
  • Prioritization in Leadership: Baasha's action shows a leader prioritizing the defense of his capital and core territories over an ongoing offensive project. He understood the immediate threat to his kingdom's heartland outweighed the strategic advantage of fortifying Ramah at that moment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "left off building" (Hebrew: ḥāḏal mi-bĕnōṯ) signifies an immediate and complete cessation of the construction work. It implies the urgency and suddenness of Baasha's decision. His choice to "dwell in Tirzah" (Hebrew: yāšab bĕ-Tirtsāh) indicates a return to his capital, Tirzah, which was a significant administrative and military center for the Northern Kingdom during this period. This wasn't merely a personal relocation but a strategic repositioning of his military and governmental focus to protect his kingdom's core from the new threat.

Practical Application

While rooted in an ancient military conflict, 1 Kings 15:21 offers valuable lessons for contemporary life. It underscores the importance of discernment and flexibility in leadership and personal decision-making. Just as Baasha had to abandon one pursuit to address a more pressing threat, we too often face situations where we must re-evaluate our plans, pivot our strategies, and reallocate resources in response to changing circumstances. This verse serves as a reminder that clinging rigidly to original plans when new, significant challenges arise can be detrimental. Instead, wise leadership and effective living often require the ability to adapt, prioritize, and focus on the most critical issues at hand, even if it means abandoning previously important projects. It also subtly reminds us of how interconnected our actions and decisions are, and how they can ripple outwards, impacting others, just as Asa's alliance forced Baasha's retreat (Proverbs 21:30).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 14:17 (4 votes)

    And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: [and] when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;

  • 1 Kings 16:15 (3 votes)

    ¶ In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people [were] encamped against Gibbethon, which [belonged] to the Philistines.

  • 1 Kings 16:18 (3 votes)

    And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,

  • 2 Chronicles 16:5 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when Baasha heard [it], that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

  • 1 Kings 15:17 (2 votes)

    And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

  • Song Of Solomon 6:4 (2 votes)

    ¶ Thou [art] beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as [an army] with banners.