Asa’s Treaty with Syria

1 In the 36th year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah. He built Ramah, that he might prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, 3 “Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”

4 Ben Hadad listened to king Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they took the stones of Ramah away and its timber with which Baasha had built, and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.

Hanani’s Message to Asa

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army, with chariots and an exceedingly great number of horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”

10 Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. At the same time, Asa oppressed some of the people.

The Death and Burial of Asa

11 The acts of Asa, first and last, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the 39th year of his reign, Asa had a disease in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great, yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but just the physicians. 13 Asa rested with his fathers and died in the 41st year of his reign. 14 They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in the city of David and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art, and they made a great fire for him.

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