Chapter 16

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up¹ against Judah, and built⁴ Ramah, to the intent that he might let² none go out⁶ or come in⁶ to Asa king of Judah.

Then Asa brought out⁵⁵ silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent⁴ to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt⁶ at Damascus, saying,²

[There is] a league between me and thee, as [there was] between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent¹ thee silver and gold; go,³ break⁵⁴ thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart⁴ from me.

And Benhadad hearkened⁴ unto king Asa, and sent⁴ the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote⁵⁵ Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard² [it], that he left off⁴ building² of Ramah, and let his work cease.⁵⁵

Then Asa the king took¹ all Judah; and they carried away⁴ the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building;¹ and he built⁴ therewith Geba and Mizpah.

And at that time Hanani the seer⁶ came¹ to Asa king of Judah, and said⁴ unto him, Because thou hast relied⁹ on the king of Syria, and not relied⁸ on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped⁸ out of thine hand.

Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many⁵³ chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely⁹ on the LORD, he delivered¹ them into thine hand.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro³⁵ throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong⁹⁹ in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly:⁸ therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Then Asa was wroth⁴ with the seer,⁶ and put⁴ him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed¹⁷ [some] of the people the same time.

And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they [are] written⁷ in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased⁴ in his feet, until his disease [was] exceeding [great]: yet in his disease he sought¹ not to the LORD, but to the physicians.⁶

And Asa slept⁴ with his fathers, and died⁴ in the one and fortieth year of his reign.²

And they buried⁴ him in his own sepulchres, which he had made¹ for himself in the city of David, and laid⁵⁵ him in the bed which was filled¹⁴ with sweet odours and divers kinds [of spices] prepared³⁰ by the apothecaries' art: and they made⁴ a very great burning for him.