2 Chronicles 16
1 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.
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, invaded Judah. He fortified Ramah to stop anyone coming from or going to Asa, king of Judah.
2 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:
Asa took the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord's Temple and the king's palace and sent them to Ben-hadad, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, with a message that said:
3 [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.
“Make an alliance between me and you like the one between my father and your father. Look at the silver and gold I've sent you. Go ahead and break your agreement with Baasha, king of Israel, so that he will leave me and go home.”
4 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.
King Ben-hadad did as Asa had asked, and he sent his armies and their commanders to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storehouse towns of Naphtali.
5 And it cams to pass, when Baasha heard it, he left off building Ramah, —and let his work cease.
When Baasha heard about it, he stopped fortifying Ramah and gave up his project.
6 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.
So King Asa went with all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and the timbers Baasha had used for building, and with them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
7 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.
But right then Hanani the seer came to Asa, king of Judah, and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram and have not put your trust in the Lord your God, your opportunity to destroy the army of the king of Aram has gone.
8 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.
Didn't the Ethiopians and Libyans have a huge army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you trusted in the Lord, he made you victorious over them.
9 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.
For the Lord looks all over the earth for the opportunity to show his power on behalf of those who are completely and sincerely devoted to him. You have acted stupidly in doing this. So from now on you will always be at war.”
10 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.
Asa was angry with the seer. He was so angry with him over this that he put him in prison. At this same time Asa started to mistreat some of the people.
11 But lo! the story of Asa, first and last, there it is, written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
The rest of what Asa did, from beginning to end, is written down in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
12 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.
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa had trouble with disease in his feet, which only became worse and worse. Yet even in his sickness he did not turn to the Lord, but only the physicians.
13 And Asa slept with his fathers, —yea he died in the forty-first year of his reign;
Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14 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.
He was buried in the tomb that he had prepared for himself in the City of David. They placed him on a bed full of spices, perfumed oils, and fragrances. Then they made a great fire to honor him.
