Asa Relies on a Foreign Alliance

There was war between Asa king of Judah and Baasha king of Israel. Baasha built up Ramah to stop people from going out or coming in to Asa. So Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of Yahweh’s house and the king’s house, and sent them to Ben Hadad king of Syria, asking for a treaty and urging him to break his agreement with Baasha.

Ben Hadad listened to Asa and sent his army commanders against cities in Israel. They struck cities in the north, and when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah. Then Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber from Ramah. Asa used them to build Geba and Mizpah.

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa with a hard message. He said Asa had relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Yahweh. Hanani reminded him that God had helped against a huge army before. He said Yahweh looks throughout the earth to show his strength for those whose hearts are wholly his. Because Asa had acted foolishly, wars would follow.

Asa became angry with Hanani and put him in prison because of this rebuke. At the same time, Asa also oppressed some of the people. The story shows that Asa did not respond well when he was confronted.

Later, in his old age, Asa became badly diseased in his feet. Chronicles says that in his illness he did not seek Yahweh, but only physicians. Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign. He was buried in David’s city, and Jehoshaphat his son became king after him.