17
And Ba’asha Melech Yisroel went up against Yehudah, and built up Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa Melech Yehudah.
18
Then Asa took all the kesef and the zahav that were left in the otzarot of the Beis Hashem, and the otzarot of the Bais HaMelech, and delivered them into the yad of his avadim; and HaMelech Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad, Ben Tavrimmon Ben Chezron Melech Aram, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
19
There is a brit between me and thee, and between Avi and Avicha; hinei, I send unto thee a shochad (incentive kind of gift) of kesef and zahav; come, break thy brit with Ba’asha Melech Yisroel, that he may withdraw from me.
20
So Ben-Hadad paid heed unto HaMelech Asa, and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Yisroel, and struck Iyon, and Dan, and Abel Beit- Ma’achah, and kol Kinnerot, with Kol Eretz Naphtali.
21
And it came to pass, when Ba’asha heard this, he stopped building Ramah, and stayed in Tirtzah.
22
Then HaMelech Asa made a proclamation throughout all Yehudah; none was exempted; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Ba’asha had built; and HaMelech Asa built up with them Geva of Binyamin, and Mitzpah.