27 Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Baasha of the house of Issachar - It is curious to find Issachar furnishing a king. Tola, its one very undistinguished Judge Judges 10:1, on obtaining office had at once settled himself in the territory of Ephraim. The tribe was as little famous as any that could be named. The "ass crouching between two burthens" was a true symbol of the patient, plodding cultivators of the plain of Esdraelon Genesis 49:14-15. Baasha probably owed his rise neither to his tribe nor to his social position, but simply to his audacity, and his known valor and skill as a soldier 1-Kings 16:2.
Smote him at Gabbethon - This was a city in the tribe of Daniel, and generally in the possession of the Philistines.
And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar,.... A man of that tribe; but who he was, or his father, is nowhere else said, very probably an officer in Nadab's army:
conspired against him; laid a scheme to take away his life, and seize the kingdom:
and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon; a city in the tribe of Daniel, Joshua 19:44.
which belongeth to the Philistines; it was a city given to the Levites, Joshua 21:23 and they being driven from it by Jeroboam, the Philistines seized on it, or had heretofore made a conquest of it; and Nadab was desirous of getting it out of their hands, and therefore besieged it, as follows:
for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon; and while he was besieging it, Baasha took the opportunity to slay him, where his carcass lay exposed to dogs, or fowls of the air, and had no burial, as Ahijah predicted, 1-Kings 14:11.
Baasha smote him at Gibbethon--This town, within the tribe of Daniel, was given to the Levites (Joshua 19:44). It lay on the Philistine borders, and having been seized by that people, Nadab laid siege to recover it.
*More commentary available at chapter level.