II Chronicles 16 Asa and the King of Syria Fight Against Baasha

 II Chronicles 16

Asa and the King of Syria Fight Against Baasha

1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, so that no one would let Asa king of Judah go out or come in.

2 Then Asa brought out the silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of God and the king's house, and sent Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying,

3 "There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and yours. Behold, I am sending you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."

4 Then Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they defeated Ijon, Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the munitions cities of Naphtali.

 5 When Baasha heard of it, he left off building Ramah and did not continue his work. 

6 Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had built, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah. 

7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you trusted in the king of Aram and did not trust in the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. 

8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a great army, with very many chariots and horsemen? But you trusted in the LORD, and he delivered them into your hand.

 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him. In this you have acted foolishly, for from now on there will be wars against you. 

10 But Asa was angry with the seer and threw him into the stocks, because he was greatly moved against him. At that time Asa also oppressed some of the people. 

11 Now the acts of Asa, first and last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

 12 And Asa became sick in his feet in the thirty-ninth year of his reign. His illness was extremely severe, and yet in his illness he did not seek the Lord, but sought physicians. 

13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign. 

14 And they buried him in his own tomb, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a bed filled with spices and spices prepared according to the art of the perfumers. And they burned him with great fire.