17
1Baashaking of Israelwent up againstJudah and 2fortifiedRamah3in order to prevent* anyone from going out or coming in to Asaking of Judah.
18
Then 4Asatookall the silver and the gold which were left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king'shouse, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And 5KingAsasent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in 6Damascus, saying,
19
"Let there be a 7treatybetween you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you a present of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baashaking of Israel so that he will withdraw from me."
20
So Ben-hadadlistened to KingAsa and sent the commanders of his armiesagainst the cities of Israel, and conquered8Ijon, 9Dan, 10Abel-beth-maacah and all11Chinneroth, besidesall the land of Naphtali.
21
When Baashaheard of it, 12he ceasedfortifyingRamah and remained in 13Tirzah.
22
Then KingAsamade a proclamation to allJudah-none was exempt -and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with whichBaasha had built. And KingAsabuilt with them 14Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.
In this chapter we have a short history of the reign of Abijam, 1Ki 15:1-8 and of Asa, 1Ki 14:9-24, both kings of Judah; and of the reigns of Nadab the son of Jeroboam, and of Baasha, who destroyed his family, both kings of Israel, 1Ki 15:25-34.