Asa Relies on Syria Instead of God
Study note
When King Baasha of Israel built a fortress at Ramah to block traffic in and out of Judah, Asa panicked. Instead of praying to God as he had done before, he took silver and gold from the Lord's temple and sent it to King Ben-hadad of Syria, asking him to break his alliance with Israel. Ben-hadad agreed and attacked Israel's northern cities, forcing Baasha to abandon his fortress project. Asa then used the building materials from Ramah to fortify his own cities.
1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's rule, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah. He built up the city of Ramah to block anyone from entering or leaving Asa's territory. In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2 So Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord's temple and the royal palace. He sent them to King Ben-hadad of Syria in Damascus with this message: Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
3 "Let's make an alliance, just like our fathers did. I am sending you silver and gold. Please break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so he will leave me alone." There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4 Ben-hadad agreed and sent his army commanders to attack Israel's cities. They captured Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the supply cities in the territory of Naphtali. And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5 When Baasha heard about this, he stopped building up Ramah and gave up the project. And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then King Asa gathered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had been using at Ramah. Asa used those materials to build up the cities of Geba and Mizpah. Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
The Prophet Hanani's Rebuke
Study note
The seer Hanani came to Asa with a stinging rebuke. He reminded Asa that God had defeated the massive Ethiopian army because Asa relied on the Lord. Now, because Asa relied on Syria's king instead of God, Syria's army had escaped. Hanani declared one of the great verses of the Bible: 'The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.' Instead of repenting, Asa became furious, threw the prophet in prison, and began to oppress some of the people.
7 At that time, Hanani the prophet came to King Asa of Judah. He said, "You depended on the king of Syria instead of the Lord your God. Because of this, the army of the king of Syria has gotten away from you." And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
8 "Remember the Ethiopians and Libyans? They had a mighty army with many chariots and horsemen. But because you trusted the Lord, he gave you victory over them." Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
9 "The Lord watches over the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are fully devoted to him, so he can make them strong. You have acted foolishly. From now on, you will face one war after another." For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
10 Asa became so angry at the prophet that he threw him in prison. He was furious because of what the prophet said. Around that same time, Asa also began treating some of the people cruelly. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
Asa's Illness and Death
Study note
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a severe disease in his feet. Even in his illness, he did not seek the Lord but only sought help from doctors. He died in the forty-first year of his reign. He was buried in the tomb he had prepared for himself in the City of David, and the people honored him with a great fire of spices.
11 All that happened during Asa's rule is in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, Asa got a serious disease in his feet. Even though his disease was very bad, he did not ask the Lord for help. He only went to the doctors. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
13 Asa died in the forty-first year of his rule. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14 He was buried in a tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bed filled with spices and special perfume mixtures, and they built a great fire in his honor. And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.