¹⁶There was war^v between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns. ¹⁷Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah^w to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.

¹⁸Asa then took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple^x and of his own palace. He entrusted it to his officials and sent^y them to Ben-Hadad^z son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. ¹⁹“Let there be a treaty^a between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”

²⁰Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. He conquered^b Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah and all Kinnereth in addition to Naphtali. ²¹When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah^c and withdrew to Tirzah.^d ²²Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah^e the stones and timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa^f built up Geba^g in Benjamin, and also Mizpah.^h

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Cross references

vSee ver 6; See 1 Ki 12:21
wSee Jos 18:25
xSee 1 Ki 14:26
y 2 Ki 12:18; 16:8; 18:14–16, 15; Joel 3:5
zver 18–20; 1 Ki 20:1; 2 Ki 6:24; 13:3; Jer 49:27
aSee Ex 23:32; See 1 Ki 5:12
b 1 Ki 20:34
cSee Jos 18:25
d 1 Ki 16:15–17
ever 17
fver 9–24; Jer 41:9
gSee Jos 18:24; 2 Ki 23:8
hSee Jos 11:3