What happens after Asa asks Benadad to break his league with Baasa?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Benadad sends his army captains against Israel’s cities. When Baasa hears, he stops building Rama and returns to Thersa. Asa then calls all Juda, without exception, to remove Rama’s stone and timber and uses them to build Gabaa of Benjamin and Maspha.

Chapter breakdown

Abiam begins to reign over Juda in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam, son of Nabat. He reigns three years in Jerusalem. His mother is Maacha, daughter of Abessalom.

Challoner’s separate note says Maacha is called elsewhere Michaia, daughter of Uriel, and that it was common in those days for one person to have two names.

Abiam follows all his father’s earlier sins; his heart is not perfect with the Lord his God as David’s was. For David’s sake the Lord gives him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and establish Jerusalem. The stated reason is that David did right in the Lord’s eyes and did not turn from his commands throughout his life, except in the matter of Urias the Hethite. The account says Roboam and Jeroboam were at war all the time of his life, then refers Abiam’s remaining words and acts to the book of the words of the days of Juda’s kings and states that Abiam and Jeroboam were at war. Abiam dies, is buried in David’s city and is succeeded by his son Asa.

Asa begins to reign over Juda in Jeroboam’s twentieth year. He reigns forty-one years in Jerusalem. The verse gives his mother’s name as Maacha, daughter of Abessalom.

Challoner’s separate note explains “his mother” as his grandmother, unless one supposes that this Maacha differs from the Maacha in verse 2. It says that alternative is not improbable.

Asa does right in the Lord’s sight as David did. He takes the effeminate out of the land and removes all the filth of the idols his fathers made. He also removes Maacha from being princess in the sacrifices of Priapus and in the grove she consecrated to him. He destroys her den, breaks the filthy idol and burns it by the torrent Cedron. He does not take away the high places; nevertheless his heart is perfect with the Lord all his days.

Challoner’s separate note distinguishes two kinds of high places. Those dedicated to idols or strange gods were removed by Asa, with 2 Paralipomenon 14:2 cited. Others were altars of the true God erected contrary to the law, which allowed sacrifices only in the temple; Asa did not remove these. On his perfect heart, the note says Asa had faults but never forsook the Lord’s worship.

Asa brings into the Lord’s house the things his father dedicated and those he himself vowed: silver, gold and vessels. War continues between Asa and Baasa, king of Israel, all their days. Baasa comes against Juda and builds Rama so no one can go out or come in on Asa’s side.

Asa takes all the silver and gold remaining in the Lord’s house’s treasures and the king’s house’s treasures, gives it to his servants and sends them to Benadad, king of Syria, who lives in Damascus. Benadad is the son of Tabremon, son of Hezion. Asa says there is a league between them and between their fathers. He has sent gifts of silver and gold and asks Benadad to come and break his league with Baasa, so Baasa will depart from him.

Benadad listens to Asa and sends his army captains against Israel’s cities. They strike Ahion, Dan, Abeldomum Maacha and all Cenneroth, identified as all Nephthali’s land. Hearing this, Baasa stops building Rama and returns to Thersa. Asa sends word throughout Juda that no man is to be excused. They take away Rama’s stones and the timber Baasa used for building; Asa uses them to build Gabaa of Benjamin and Maspha.

The account refers Asa’s remaining acts, strength, deeds and built cities to the book of the words of the days of Juda’s kings. In old age he is diseased in his feet. He dies and is buried with his fathers in David’s city; his son Josaphat succeeds him.

Nadab, son of Jeroboam, begins to reign over Israel in Asa’s second year and reigns two years. He does evil before the Lord, following his father’s ways and the sins through which he made Israel sin. Baasa, son of Ahias, of Issachar’s house, conspires against him and kills him in Gebbethon, a Philistine city, where Nadab and all Israel are laying siege. Baasa kills him in Asa’s third year and reigns in his place.

As king, Baasa cuts off all Jeroboam’s house, leaving not one soul of his descendants until he has utterly destroyed it. This is according to the Lord’s word spoken through Ahias the Silonite, because of Jeroboam’s sin, his making Israel sin and the offense by which he provoked the Lord God of Israel. The rest of Nadab’s acts and all he did are referred to the book of the words of the days of Israel’s kings.

The account again states that Asa and Baasa, king of Israel, are at war all their days. Baasa, son of Ahias, begins to reign over all Israel in Thersa in Asa’s third year and reigns twenty-four years. He does evil before the Lord, following Jeroboam’s ways and the sins through which he made Israel sin.

The story inside

The chapter follows Abiam’s sins, the lamp given for David’s sake, his wars and Asa’s succession. Asa’s account combines removal of idols and Maacha’s named role with the high places left standing; separate notes qualify Maacha’s identity and relationship and explain the high places and Asa’s heart. Baasa’s building of Rama is followed by Asa’s gifts and request to Benadad. Benadad’s attacks lead Baasa to stop work, after which Juda removes the materials for Asa’s buildings. Following Asa’s closing record, the account turns to Nadab’s reign, Baasa’s killing of him during the siege, the destruction of Jeroboam’s house according to the Lord’s word, and Baasa’s continued sins. Dates, successions and distinct war statements tie these accounts together.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The account names both a standard and exceptions. Abiam’s heart is contrasted with David’s, while the Scripture itself retains the matter of Urias as David’s exception. Asa is said to have a perfect heart despite leaving high places; Challoner’s separate note distinguishes their kinds and explains that Asa had faults but did not forsake the Lord’s worship.
2
Asa’s request has a stated purpose and a reported sequence. He asks Benadad to break the league with Baasa so Baasa will depart. Benadad’s captains attack named places; when Baasa hears, he stops building Rama. Juda then removes its materials with no one excused and Asa uses them in two named towns.
3
Baasa’s destruction of Jeroboam’s house is linked to the Lord’s word through Ahias the Silonite and Jeroboam’s sins. The chapter also says Baasa continues Jeroboam’s ways and makes Israel sin. Fulfillment of the stated sentence is therefore not presented as a declaration that Baasa’s conduct is right.

Test your recall

How do Asa’s request, Benadad’s attacks and Baasa’s response lead to the removal and reuse of Rama’s building materials?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 36754–36763
3 Kings Chapter 15 The acts of Abiam and of Asa kings of Juda. And of Nadab and Baasa kings of Israel. 15:1. Now in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, Abiam reigned over Juda. 15:2. He reigned three years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Maacha, the daughter of Abessalom.
Lines 36765–36766
Maacha, etc.... She is called elsewhere Michaia, daughter of Uriel; but it was common in those days for the same person to have two names.
Lines 36768–36787
15:3. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David, his father. 15:4. But for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 15:5. Because David had done that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from any thing that he commanded him, all the days of his life, except the matter of Urias, the Hethite. 15:6. But there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all the time of his life. 15:7. And the rest of the words of Abiam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? And there was war between Abiam and Jeroboam. 15:8. And Abiam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa, his son, reigned in his stead.
Lines 36789–36793
15:9. So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, reigned Asa, king of Juda, 15:10. And he reigned one and forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacha, the daughter of Abessalom.
Lines 36795–36797
His mother, etc.... That is, his grandmother; unless we suppose, which is not improbable, that the Maacha here named is different from the Maacha mentioned, ver. 2.
Lines 36799–36811
15:11. And Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, as did David, his father: 15:12. And he took away the effeminate out of the land, and removed all the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made. 15:13. Moreover, he also removed his mother, Maacha, from being the princess in the sacrifices of Priapus, and in the grove which she had consecrated to him: and he destroyed her den, and broke in pieces the filthy idol, and burnt it by the torrent Cedron: 15:14. But the high places he did not take away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect with the Lord all his days:
Lines 36813–36819
The high places.... There were excelsa or high places of two different kinds. Some were set up, and dedicated to the worship of idols, or strange gods; and these Asa removed, 2 Par. 14.2; others were only altars of the true God, but were erected contrary to the law, which allowed of no sacrifices but in the temple; and these were not removed by Asa.—Ibid. Perfect with the Lord.... Asa had his faults; but never forsook the worship of the Lord.
Lines 36821–36828
15:15. And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and he had vowed, into the house of the Lord, silver and gold, and vessels. 15:16. And there was war between Asa, and Baasa, king of Israel, all their days. 15:17. And Baasa, king of Israel, went up against Juda, and built Rama, that no man might go out or come in of the side of Asa, king of Juda.
Lines 36830–36839
15:18. Then Asa took all the silver and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hands of his servants: and sent them to Benadad, son of Tabremon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: 15:19. There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: therefore I have sent thee presents of silver and gold: and I desire thee to come, and break thy league with Baasa, king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
Lines 36841–36851
15:20. Benadad, hearkening to king Asa, sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel, and they smote Ahion, and Dan, and Abeldomum Maacha, and all Cenneroth; that is all the land of Nephthali. 15:21. And when Baasa had heard this, he left off building Rama, and returned into Thersa. 15:22. But king Asa sent word into all Juda, saying: Let no man be excused: and they took away the stones from Rama, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasa had been building, and with them king Asa built Gabaa of Benjamin, and Maspha.
Lines 36853–36859
15:23. But the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his strength, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 15:24. And he slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David, his father. And Josaphat, his son, reigned in his place.
Lines 36861–36873
15:25. But Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, reigned over Israel the second year of Asa, king of Juda: and he reigned over Israel two years. 15:26. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin. 15:27. And Baasa, the son of Ahias, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him, and slew him in Gebbethon, which is a city of the Philistines: for Nadab and all Israel besieged Gebbethon. 15:28. So Baasa slew him in the third year of Asa, king of Juda, and reigned in his place.
Lines 36874–36886
15:29. And when he was king, he cut off all the house of Jeroboam: he left not so much as one soul of his seed, till he had utterly destroyed him, according to the word of the Lord, which he had spoken in the hand of Ahias, the Silonite: 15:30. Because of the sin of Jeroboam, which he had sinned, and wherewith he had made Israel to sin, and for the offence wherewith he provoked the Lord, the God of Israel. 15:31. But the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?
Lines 36887–36896
15:32. And there was war between Asa and Baasa, the king of Israel, all their days. 15:33. In the third year of Asa, king of Juda, Baasa, the son of Ahias, reigned over all Israel, in Thersa, four and twenty years. 15:34. And he did evil before the Lord, and walked in the ways of Jeroboam, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin.