2Chronicles:16

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* It was the thirty-sixth year of Asa ’s reign . King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and built fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from going to or coming from King Asa of Judah . * Then Asa brought out all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of Jehovah ’s Temple and the royal palace . He sent them to Damascus to King Benhadad . * He said : »There is a treaty between you and me as there was between your father and my father . I am sending you silver and gold . Now break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone .« * Benhadad agreed to do what King Asa requested . He sent his generals and their armies to attack the cities of Israel . He conquered Ijon , Dan , Abel Maim , and all the storage cities in the territory of Naphtali . * When King Baasha heard what happened he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the work . * King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah . They used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah . * Then the prophet Hanani went to King Asa . He said : »Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on Jehovah your God , the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you . * »The Ethiopians and the Libyans , did they have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops ? But because you relied on Jehovah he gave you victory over them . * »The eyes of Jehovah keep close watch over the entire world . He gives strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him . You have acted foolishly ! Therefore from now on you will always be at war .« * Asa was so angry with the prophet that he had him put in chains . It was at this same time that Asa began treating some of the people cruelly . * All the events of Asa ’s reign from beginning to end are recorded in The History of the Kings of Judah and Israel . * In the thirty-ninth year that Asa was king a severe foot disease crippled him . Even then he did not turn to Jehovah for help , but to doctors . * Two years later he died . * Asa was buried in the rock tomb that he had carved out for himself in David ’s City . They used spices and perfumed oils to prepare his body for burial . They built a huge bonfire to mourn his death .

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