1In 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 . 2Then 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 , 3There 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. 4And 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 . 5And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it , that he left off building of Ramah , and let his work cease . 6Then 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 Message
7And 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 . 8Were 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 . 9For 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 .
Asa's Response and Consequences
10Then 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 . 11And, behold, the acts of Asa , first and last , lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel . 12And 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 . 13And Asa slept with his fathers , and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign . 14And 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.