2 Chronicles 16:1-14 - The End Of Asa's Reign

¹ In the thirty sixth year of the reign of Asa, came Baasha king of Israel against Judah and built Ramah - to the intent that he would let none that pertained to Asa king of Judah have passage in and out. ² Whereupon Asa fetched out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent it to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, and said, ³ "There is a confederation between me and thee, and so was between my father and thine, wherefore I have sent thee silver and gold, that thou go and break thine covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."

⁴ And Benhadad granted unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel. And they beat Ijon, Dan, Abelmaim and all the store cities of Naphtali. ⁵ And when Baasha heard that, he left building of Ramah and let his work cease. ⁶ And then Asa the king took all Judah and carried away and stones and timber of Ramah wherewith Baasha was a-building: and he built therewith Geba and Mizphah.

⁷ At that same time, Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because thou trustedest in the king of Syria, and trustest not in the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. ⁸ Were not the black Moors and they of Libya a great host with exceeding many chariots and horsemen? And yet because thou trustedest in the LORD, he delivered them into thine hands. ⁹ For the eyes of the LORD behold all the earth, to strengthen the hearts of them that are whole with him. Herein thou hast done foolishly, and therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war." ¹⁰ Whereupon Asa was wroth with the seer and put him in the converting house, for he was displeased with him because of that. Moreover Asa oppressed certain of the people the same season.

¹¹ The deeds of Asa both first, and last, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² And the thirty ninth year of his reign Asa fell sick of his feet, and that his disease exceeded. And thereto in his sickness he asked no counsel of the LORD, but of Physicians. ¹³ And at the last Asa fell on sleep with his fathers and died when he had reigned fifty one years. ¹⁴ And they buried him in his own sepulchre which he had made in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which he had filled with sweet odours of divers kinds, made by the craft of the apothecaries. And they did exceeding great cost about burying of him.