War with Israel

According to Kings, Asa experienced continual warfare with Israel’s king, Baasha (1 Kgs 15:16, 32), driving Asa to seek aid from Ben-Hadad of Aram. Asa appears to have accepted a vassal status for Judah under Aram in exchange for a military invasion into northern Israel and relief from Israel’s attack (Knoppers, “Yahweh,” 607). The narrative suggests that Asa reacquired territory that Baasha had taken and then fortified Geba as a border fort with the materiel Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. First Kings presents this war as a great victory for Asa. Some interpreters view 1 King’s account of Asa’s victory as historical, while others view it as literary invention. In any event, the manner of warfare suggests that Judah was not a military factor under Asa; moreover, Israel and Judah were still fighting over establishing boundaries from the time of Rheoboam and Jeroboam I (Elgavish,”Objective,” 149).