Study Desk

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, ^(C1)Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and ^(F1)fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.

Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the king's house, and sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,

"A treaty must be made between ^(F1)you and me, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me."

And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and he sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they ^(F1)conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all ^(C1)the ^(F2)storage cities of Naphtali.

When Baasha heard about it, he stopped ^(F1)fortifying Ramah and put an end to his work.

Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with it he ^(F1)fortified Geba and Mizpah.

At that time ^(C1)Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "^(C2)Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, for that reason the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.

"Were not ^(C1)the Ethiopians and the Lubim ^(C2)an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet ^(C3)because you relied on the LORD, He handed them over to you.

"For ^(C1)the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those ^(C2)whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will have wars."

Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in ^(F1)prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa mistreated some of the people at the same time.