Study Desk

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign ^(a)Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and ^[a]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 them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,

"Let there be a treaty between ^[b]you and me, as 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."

So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they ^[c]conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all ^(b)the ^[d]store cities of Naphtali.

When Baasha heard of it, he ceased ^[e]fortifying Ramah and stopped 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 them he ^[f]fortified Geba and Mizpah.