1 Kings 15:18

18 So King Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the Temple and the palace, and sent it by some of his officials to Damascus, to King Benhadad of Syria, the son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion, with this message:

1 Kings 15:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 15:18

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left
in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of
the king's house
What was left untaken away by Shishak king of Egypt, ( 1 Kings 14:26 ) , or what he had put there dedicated by his father and himself, ( 1 Kings 15:15 ) and be they either, they were not to be taken, especially the treasures of the house of the Lord, and put to profane use, and particularly to such bad purposes as these were:

and delivered them into the hands of his servants:
to be disposed of as next directed:

and King Asa sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimon, the son of
Hezion king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus;
according to some chronologers ^F23, Hezion, the grandfather of this Benhadad, is the same with Rezon the first king of Damascus, ( 1 Kings 11:23 1 Kings 11:24 ) , who was succeeded by Tabrimon, and he by Benhadad:

saying:
as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 Usher. Annal. A. M. 3064. Marsham. Canon. Chron. Seculum 13. p. 346.

1 Kings 15:18 In-Context

16 King Asa of Judah and King Baasha of Israel were constantly at war with each other as long as they were in power.

17 Baasha invaded Judah and started to fortify Ramah in order to cut off all traffic in and out of Judah.

18 So King Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the Temple and the palace, and sent it by some of his officials to Damascus, to King Benhadad of Syria, the son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion, with this message:

19 "Let us be allies, as our fathers were. This silver and gold is a present for you. Now break your alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so that he will have to pull his troops out of my territory."

20 King Benhadad agreed to Asa's proposal and sent his commanding officers and their armies to attack the cities of Israel. They captured Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, the area near Lake Galilee, and the whole territory of Naphtali.