Baasha was declared king, and proceeded to operate against Judah.  Having successfully waged war against Asa, he proceeded to fortify Ramah, a few miles to the north of Jerusalem, “that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah".[440]

Now Israel was at this time one of the allies of the powerful Aramaean State of Damascus, which had resisted the advance of the Assyrian armies during the reign of Ashur-natsir-pal I, and apparently supported the rebellions of the northern Mesopotamian kings.  Judah was nominally subject to Egypt, which, however, was weakened by internal troubles, and therefore unable either to assert its authority in Judah or help its king to resist the advance of the Israelites.

In the hour of peril Judah sought the aid of the king of Damascus.  “Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants:  and King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father:  behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold:  come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me".[441]

Ben-hadad accepted the invitation readily.  He waged war against Israel, and Baasha was compelled to abandon the building of the fortifications at Ramah.  “Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted:  and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah."[442]

Judah and Israel thus became subject to Damascus, and had to recognize the king of that city as arbiter in all their disputes.

After reigning about twenty-four years, Baasha of Israel died in 886 B.C. and was succeeded by his son Elah who came to the throne “in the twenty and sixth year of Asa”.  He had ruled a little over a year when he was murdered by “his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots”, while he was “drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah".[443] Thus ended the Second Dynasty of the Kingdom of Israel.

Zimri’s revolt was shortlived.  He reigned only “seven days in Tirzah”.  The army was “encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.  And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired and hath also slain the king; wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.  And Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.  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."[444]

Omri’s claim to the throne was disputed by a rival named Tibni.  “But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni, son of Ginath:  so Tibni died, and Omri reigned."[445]