2 Chronicles 16:1-9

Asa Wars against Baasha

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign ¹Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent * anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the king's house, and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying,

3 "Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me."

4 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim and all ²the store cities of Naphtali.

5 When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and stopped his work.

6 Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.

Asa Imprisons the Prophet

7 At that time ³Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "⁴Because you have relied on the king of Aram and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore * the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.

8 "Were not ⁵the Ethiopians and the Lubim ⁶an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet ⁷because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.

9 "For ⁸the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those ⁹whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

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