1 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. 2 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 Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,*16.2 Damascus: Heb. Darmesek 3 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. 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.*16.4 his: Heb. which were his 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 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.

7 And 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. 8 Were 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.*16.8 a huge: Heb. in abundance 9 For 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.*16.9 to shew…: or, strongly to hold with them, etc 10 Then 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.*16.10 oppressed: Heb. crushed

11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And 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.

13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. 14 And 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.*16.14 had made: Heb. had digged

1 IN die ses-en-dertigste jaar van die regering van Asa het Baésa, die koning van Israel, opgetrek teen Juda en Rama gebou om niemand van Asa, die koning van Juda, te laat uit- of ingaan nie.

2 Toe bring Asa silwer en goud uit die skatkamers van die huis van die Here en van die huis van die koning en stuur dit na Bénhadad, die koning van Aram, wat in Damaskus gewoon het, om te sê:

3 Daar is 'n verbond tussen my en u, en tussen my vader en u vader; kyk, ek stuur u silwer en goud; gaan verbreek u verbond met Baésa, die koning van Israel, dat hy kan optrek weg van my af.

4 En Bénhadad het geluister na koning Asa en die owerstes van sy leërmagte gestuur teen die stede van Israel, en hulle het Ijon en Dan en Abel-Máim en al die voorraadstede van Náftali verwoes.

5 En sodra Baésa dit hoor, het hy opgehou om Rama te bou en sy werk gestaak.

6 Toe neem koning Asa die hele Juda, en hulle het die klippe en balke van Rama, waarmee Baésa gebou het, weggedra; en hy het daarmee Geba en Mispa gebou.

7 En in dié tyd het die siener Hanáni na Asa, die koning van Juda, gekom en aan hom gesê: Omdat u op die koning van Aram gesteun en nie op die Here u God gesteun het nie, daarom het die leër van die koning van Aram uit u hand vrygeraak.

8 Was die Kusiete en die Líbiërs nie 'n groot leërmag met buitengewoon baie strydwaens en perderuiters nie? En tog het Hy hulle in u hand gegee; omdat u op die Here gesteun het;

9 want die Here — sy oë deurloop die hele aarde om diegene kragtig te steun wie se hart onverdeeld op Hom gerig is; hierin het u dwaas gehandel, want van nou af sal daar oorloë teen u wees.

10 Maar Asa het hom vererg vir die siener en hom in die gevangenis gesit, want hy was hieroor woedend op hom; ook het Asa in dieselfde tyd sommige uit die volk verdruk.

11 En kyk, die geskiedenis van Asa die vroeëre en die latere, dit is beskrywe in die boek van die konings van Juda en Israel.

12 En in die negen-en-dertigste jaar van sy regering het Asa gely aan sy voete; sy siekte was baie ernstig; maar selfs in sy siekte het hy die Here nie geraadpleeg nie, maar die geneeshere.

13 En Asa het ontslaap met sy vaders en gesterwe in die een-en-veertigste jaar van sy regering.

14 En hulle het hom begrawe in sy graf wat hy vir hom in die stad van Dawid gegrawe het, en hom op die bed neergelê wat vol speserye was, en dit van allerhande soorte, volgens die kuns van 'n salfmenger klaargemaak; en hulle het vir hom 'n buitengewoon groot wierookbrand aangesteek.