Asa’s Treaty with Syria
1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa,Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah,that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2 Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of theLordand of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying,
3 “Lettherebea treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”
4 So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
5 Now it happened, when Baasha heardit,that he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work.
6 Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.
Hanani’s Message to Asa
7 And at that timeHanani 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 theLordyour God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.
8 Werethe Ethiopians andthe Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on theLord, He delivered them into yourhand.
9 For the eyes of theLordrun to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf ofthosewhose heartisloyal to Him. In thisyou have done foolishly; therefore from now onyou shall have wars.”
10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, andput him in prison, forhewasenraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressedsomeof the people at that time.
Illness and Death of Asa
11 Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease hedid not seek theLord, but the physicians.
13 So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14 They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filledwith spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They madea very great burning for him.