2 Chronicles 16

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, acted aggressively against Judah and built up Ramah, so that he might not allow anyone to leave or enter into the land of Asa, king of Judah.

In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, —that he might let none come out or go in, unto Asa king of Judah.

2 Then Asa brought the silver and gold out of the storerooms in the house of Yahweh and of the king's house, and sent it to Ben Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus. He said,

So Asa brought forth silver and gold, out of the treasuries of the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king, —and sent unto Ben-hadad, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying:

3 “Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent to you silver and gold. Break your covenant with Baasha, king of Israel, so that he may leave me alone.”

[Let there be] a covenant, between me and thee, as between my father and thy father.—Lo! I have sent thee silver and gold, go break thy covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may go up from me.

4 Ben Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.

And Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the chieftains of the forces which he had, against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon and Dan, and Abel-maim, —and all the storehouses of the cities of Naphtali.

5 It came about that when Baasha heard this, he stopped building up Ramah, and let his work cease.

And it cams to pass, when Baasha heard it, he left off building Ramah, —and let his work cease.

6 Then Asa the king took all Judah with him. They carried away the stones and timbers of Ramah with which Baasha had been building up the city. Then King Asa used that building material to build up Geba and Mizpah.

And, Asa the king, took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timbers thereof, which Baasha had used in building, —and he built therewith, Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time Hanani the seer went to Asa, king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.

And, at that time, came Hanani the seer, unto Asa the king of Judah, —and said unto him, Because thou hast leaned upon the king of Syria, and hast not leaned upon Yahweh thy God, for this cause, hath the force of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.

8 Were not the Cushites and the Libyans a huge army, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he gave you victory over them.

Were not, the Ethiopians and the Lybians, a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst lean upon Yahweh, he delivered them into thy hand.

9 For the eyes of Yahweh run everywhere throughout the whole earth, so that he might show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him. But you have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, you will have war.”

For, as touching Yahweh, [seeing that], his eyes, are ever running to and fro throughout all the earth, to shew himself strong with them who are perfect toward himself, thou hast made thyself foolish over this, —for, from henceforth, there shall be with thee—wars.

10 Then Asa was angry with the seer; he put him into prison, for he was angry with him over this matter. At the same time, Asa oppressed some of the people.

Then was Asa angry with the seer, and put him in the house of the stocks, for he was in a rage with him, over this, —and Asa oppressed some of the people, at that time.

11 Behold, the deeds of Asa, from first to last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

But lo! the story of Asa, first and last, there it is, written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was very severe, he did not seek help from Yahweh, but only from the physicians.

And Asa became diseased—in the thirty-ninth year of his reign—in his feet, exceedingly severe, was his disease, —yet, even in his disease, he sought not Yahweh, but unto physicians.

13 So Asa slept with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

And Asa slept with his fathers, —yea he died in the forty-first year of his reign;

14 They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by skilled perfumers. Then they made a very great fire in his honor.

and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices—yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer’s art, —and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning.