מלכים א, פרק ט״ו, פסוק כ״א

A sudden military threat from the north forces a dramatic shift in strategy for the northern kingdom. Instead of pressing an offensive campaign, the focus immediately pivots to defense and border stabilization. Upon receiving news of the incoming attack, Baasha abandons his fortification of Ramah and completely halts his operations against Judah. He loses all desire to continue his conflict with Asa, the king of Judah, especially since this war occurs near the end of his life [רד״ק, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Following this sudden withdrawal, Baasha retreats to Tirzah. The primary approach among commentators is that he returns there simply because it serves as the royal city and the new capital of Israel, originally established by Jeroboam, making it his natural home base.

However, an alternative perspective offers a deeper psychological layer to this retreat. Rather than viewing his arrival purely as a geographical destination, the name of the city is conceptually linked to crushing and oppression. According to this view, Baasha's return is not a routine or peaceful retirement to his capital, but rather a retreat marked by deep fear and anxiety. He spends his time living a broken, terrified existence, entirely consumed by the dread of the Aramean king [רד״ק, אברבנאל].