Asa's Last Years
1
1In the 2thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, 3that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2
Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying,
3
"There is a covenanta between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me."
4
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the 4store cities of Naphtali.
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And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease.
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Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.
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At that time 5Hanani 6the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, 7"Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.
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Were not 8the Ethiopians and 9the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet 10because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand.
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11For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those 12whose heart is blameless toward him. 13You have done foolishly in this, for from now on 14you will have wars."
10
Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him 15in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.
12
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.
13
And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)