Ben-hadad

16There was war between Asa and Baasha, king of Israel, all their days.

And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17Baasha, king of Israel, came to fight against Judah. He built up the town of Ramah with strong walls. He wanted to stop anyone from going in or out of Asa's land.

And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

NoteRamah was a town on the road to Jerusalem. Building it up meant adding thick walls. Then soldiers could stand there and block the road.

18So Asa took all the silver and gold left in the LORD's house. He also took the treasure from his own palace. He gave it to his servants to carry. King Asa sent them to Benhadad, the king of Syria, who lived in Damascus. Benhadad was the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion. Asa sent this message:

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

NoteSyria was a country north of Israel. Damascus was its biggest city. A palace is the house where a king lives.

19"Let us be friends, you and me, like our fathers were. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Please break your promise with Baasha, the king of Israel. Then he will go away and leave me alone."

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

NoteKings made promises to help each other in wars. Asa wanted Benhadad to break that kind of promise.

20Benhadad listened to King Asa. He sent his army leaders to attack the cities of Israel. They beat Ijon, Dan, and Abelbethmaachah. They took all of Cinneroth and all the land of Naphtali.

So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

NoteThese were towns and lands in the north part of Israel.

21When Baasha heard this news, he stopped building up Ramah. He went back and stayed in the city of Tirzah.

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

NoteTirzah was the city where the kings of Israel lived then.

22Then King Asa called every man in Judah, with no one left out. They carried away the stones and wood Baasha had used at Ramah. With them, King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and Mizpah.

Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

NoteGeba and Mizpah were towns near the border. Benjamin was one of Israel's family groups. Each group came from one of Jacob's sons.

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.

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.

NoteLong before this, Israel and Judah were one country. Then it split into two lands, each with its own king. So Israel and Judah were now enemies. Ramah was a town near the line between them. Building it up meant putting strong walls around it.

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:

Then 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,

NoteThe LORD's house means the temple in Jerusalem. It was the special building where people came to worship God. Kings kept silver and gold safe there. Syria was a country to the north, past Israel. Damascus was its biggest city.

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."

There 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.

NoteKings made agreements, or promises, to help each other and not fight. If Ben-hadad broke his promise to Baasha, he could attack him instead.

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.

And 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.

NoteIjon, Dan, and Abel-maim were towns in the far north of Israel. They were the closest ones to Syria, so they were attacked first.

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

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

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.

Then 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.

NoteStones and big pieces of wood were hard to get and cost a lot. So Asa's men carried them off and used them again. Geba and Mizpah were towns on Judah's border.