II Chronicles 16

1In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, King Baasha of Israel marched against Judah and built up Ramah to block all movement on behalf of King Asa of Judah.

2Asa took all the silver and gold from the treasuries of the House of GOD and the royal palace, and sent them to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who resided in Damascus, with this message:

3“There is a pact between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. I herewith send you silver and gold; go and break your pact with King Baasha of Israel so that he may withdraw from me.”

4Ben-hadad acceded to King Asa’s request; he sent his army officers against the towns of Israel and ravaged Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the garrison towns of Naphtali.

5When Baasha heard about it, he stopped building up Ramah and put an end to the work on it.

6Then King Asa mustered all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber with which Baasha had built up Ramah; with these King Asa built up Geba and Mizpah.

7At that time, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and did not rely on the ETERNAL your God, therefore the army of the king of Aram has slipped out of your hands.

8The Cushites and Libyans were a mighty army with chariots and riders in very great numbers, yet because you relied on GOD they were delivered into your hands.

9For GOD’s eyes range over the entire earth, to give support to those who are wholehearted. You have acted foolishly in this matter, and from now on you will be beset by wars.”

10Asa was vexed at the seer and put him into the stocks, for he was furious with him because of that. Asa inflicted cruelties on some of the people at that time.

11The acts of Asa, early and late, are recorded in the annals of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa suffered from an acute foot ailment; but ill as he was, he still did not turn to GOD but to physicians.

13Asa rested with his ancestors. He died in the forty-first year of his reign

14and was buried in the grave that he had made for himself in the City of David. He was laid in his resting-place, which was filled with spices of all kinds, expertly blended; a very great fire was made in his honor.