2 Chronicles

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

1It was Asa's thirty-sixth year as king. Baasha, the king of Israel, came to attack Judah. He built up the town of Ramah with strong walls. He wanted to stop people from going in or out of Asa's land.

NoteIn old English, "let none go out" means to stop people from going out. It does not mean to allow them.

2Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

2So Asa took silver and gold out of the LORD's house and out of his own palace. He sent it to Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, who lived in the city of Damascus. He sent this message with it:

3There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

3"Let there be an agreement between you and me. Our fathers had one too. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your agreement with Baasha, king of Israel. Then he will leave me alone."

4And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

4Ben-hadad listened to King Asa. He sent the leaders of his armies to attack the towns of Israel. They took Ijon, Dan, and Abel-maim. They also took all the towns of Naphtali where supplies were kept.

5And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

5When Baasha heard this news, he stopped building at Ramah. He left the work unfinished.

6Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

6Then King Asa gathered all the men of Judah. They carried away the stones and the wood that Baasha had been building with. Asa used them to build up the towns of Geba and Mizpah.

7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

7At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa, king of Judah. A seer was a man who told people what God showed him. He said, "You trusted the king of Syria. You did not trust the LORD your God. So the Syrian army has slipped away from you."

8Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

8"The people of Ethiopia and Libya had a huge army. They had many chariots and men on horses. But that time you trusted the LORD. So he handed them over to you."

9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

9"The LORD looks all over the earth. He is looking for people whose hearts belong fully to him. He shows his strength by helping them. This time you acted foolishly. From now on you will have wars."

Note"Whose heart is perfect toward him" does not mean people who never do wrong. It means people who give God their whole heart.

10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

10Asa was angry with the seer. He was so angry that he locked him up in prison. At that same time, Asa was cruel to some of his own people.

11And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

11The things Asa did, from first to last, were written down. You can read them in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

12In his thirty-ninth year as king, Asa got a disease in his feet. It grew worse and worse. Even then he did not ask the LORD for help. He asked only the doctors.

13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

13Asa died, just as his fathers had died before him. It was his forty-first year as king.

14And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.

14They buried him in the tomb he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bed piled with sweet spices and mixed perfumes. Then they made a great fire to honor him.

NoteThe "very great burning" was a large fire of spices lit to honor the king. His body was not burned.