1 Kings 15:21

21 As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.

1 Kings 15:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 15:21

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof
What was doing in the northern part of his kingdom:

that he left off building of Ramah;
which was the thing designed to be answered by this diversion:

and dwelt in Tirzah;
in the tribe of Manasseh, nearer at hand, to observe and stop the motions of the Syrian king.

1 Kings 15:21 In-Context

19 “Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”

20 Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Kinnereth, and all the land of Naphtali.

21 As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.

22 Then King Asa sent an order throughout Judah, requiring that everyone, without exception, help to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the town of Geba in Benjamin and the town of Mizpah.

23 The rest of the events in Asa’s reign—the extent of his power, everything he did, and the names of the cities he built—are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah (or Israel). In his old age his feet became diseased.