Asa
Reform King of Judah
También conocido como: Azzan
Asa ruled the kingdom of Judah for 41 years as the third king after the division of Israel. His reign was marked by profound religious reforms: he removed idols and cultic prostitution, deposed his grandmother Maaka as queen mother because she had made an Asherah image, and gathered the people for a solemn renewal of their covenant with the Lord. When an overwhelming Cushite army under Zerah threatened Judah, Asa placed his trust in God and won a decisive victory at Mareshah. His final years of rule were however overshadowed by failing faith. Faced with the threat from Israel's king Baasha, he chose to ally himself with Ben-Hadad of Aram-Damascus instead of seeking the Lord's help – and when the prophet Hanani rebuked him for this, Asa imprisoned the prophet in anger. Finally, he was struck by a serious foot disease, but even in this distress he turned to physicians rather than to God. Asa's story illustrates how faithful obedience early in life does not automatically guarantee faithfulness throughout one's entire life.
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Hechos clave
Asa Becomes King over Judah
Asa succeeded his father Abijam as king over Judah and reigned for 41 years in Jerusalem.
9In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah.
וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְיָרָבְעָ֖ם מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מָלַ֥ךְ אָסָ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
10He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.[^1]
[^1]: Hebrew reads *his mother*; the term can denote a grandmother or other female ancestor. Maacah was also the mother of Abijam (v. 2).
וְאַרְבָּעִ֤ים וְאַחַת֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ מַעֲכָ֖ה בַּת־אֲבִישָׁלֽוֹם׃
1Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אָסָא֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃
2He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.
וַיָּ֛סַר אֶת־מִזְבְּח֥וֹת הַנֵּכָ֖ר וְהַבָּמ֑וֹת וַיְשַׁבֵּר֙ אֶת־הַמַּצֵּב֔וֹת וַיְגַדַּ֖ע אֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִֽים׃
Victory over the Cushite army of Zerah
When a vast Cushite army under Zerah attacked Judah, Asa cried out to the Lord for help, and God gave him a mighty victory at Mareshah in the lowlands of Judah.
9Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
וַיֵּצֵ֥א אָסָ֖א לְפָנָ֑יו וַיַּֽעַרְכוּ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּגֵ֥יא צְפַ֖תָה לְמָרֵשָֽׁה׃
10Asa called out to the LORD his God: "LORD, there is no one besides you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast horde. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you."
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אָסָ֜א אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָיו֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהוָ֗ה אֵֽין־עִמְּךָ֤ לַעְזוֹר֙ בֵּ֥ין רַב֙ לְאֵ֣ין כֹּ֔חַ עָזְרֵ֜נוּ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּֽי־עָלֶ֣יךָ נִשְׁעַ֔נּוּ וּבְשִׁמְךָ֣ בָ֔אנוּ עַל־הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ אַ֔תָּה אַל־יַעְצֹ֥ר עִמְּךָ֖ אֱנֽוֹשׁ׃ ס
11So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled.
וַיִּגֹּ֤ף יְהוָה֙ אֶת־הַכּוּשִׁ֔ים לִפְנֵ֥י אָסָ֖א וְלִפְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ הַכּוּשִֽׁים׃
12Asa and the troops with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until not one of them was left alive, for they were shattered before the LORD and before his army. And they carried off a very great amount of plunder.
וַיִּרְדְּפֵ֨ם אָסָ֜א וְהָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־עִמּוֹ֮ עַד־לִגְרָר֒ וַיִּפֹּ֤ל מִכּוּשִׁים֙ לְאֵ֣ין לָהֶ֣ם מִֽחְיָ֔ה כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָ֖ה וְלִפְנֵ֣י מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ שָׁלָ֖ל הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
13They struck down all the cities around Gerar, for the terror of the LORD had fallen on them. They plundered all those cities, for there was much plunder in them.
וַיַּכּ֗וּ אֵ֤ת כָּל־הֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיב֣וֹת גְּרָ֔ר כִּי־הָיָ֥ה פַֽחַד־יְהוָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֙זּוּ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים כִּֽי־בִזָּ֥ה רַבָּ֖ה הָיְתָ֥ה בָהֶֽם׃
14They attacked the camps of the herdsmen as well and carried off great numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
וְגַם־אָהֳלֵ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה הִכּ֑וּ וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּ צֹ֤אן לָרֹב֙ וּגְמַלִּ֔ים וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ ס
The Prophet Azariah's Encouragement
After the victory over the Cushites, the prophet Azariah son of Oded met with Asa and encouraged him to continue his reforms and remain faithful to the Lord. The prophet reminded him that the Lord would be with them as long as they were with Him.
1The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.
וַעֲזַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־עוֹדֵ֔ד הָיְתָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו ר֥וּחַ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
2He went out to meet Asa and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will let you find him; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
וַיֵּצֵא֮ לִפְנֵ֣י אָסָא֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ שְׁמָע֕וּנִי אָסָ֖א וְכָל־יְהוּדָ֣ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ן יְהוָ֤ה עִמָּכֶם֙ בִּֽהְיֽוֹתְכֶ֣ם עִמּ֔וֹ וְאִֽם־תִּדְרְשֻׁ֙הוּ֙ יִמָּצֵ֣א לָכֶ֔ם וְאִם־תַּעַזְבֻ֖הוּ יַעֲזֹ֥ב אֶתְכֶֽם׃ ס
3For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach, and without the Law.
וְיָמִ֥ים רַבִּ֖ים לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְלֹ֣א ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֱמֶ֗ת וּלְלֹ֛א כֹּהֵ֥ן מוֹרֶ֖ה וּלְלֹ֥א תוֹרָֽה׃
4But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he let them find him.
וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ בַּצַּר־ל֔וֹ עַל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיְבַקְשֻׁ֖הוּ וַיִּמָּצֵ֥א לָהֶֽם׃
5In those times there was no safety for anyone coming or going, for great turmoil gripped all the inhabitants of the lands.
וּבָעִתִּ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם אֵ֥ין שָׁל֖וֹם לַיּוֹצֵ֣א וְלַבָּ֑א כִּ֚י מְהוּמֹ֣ת רַבּ֔וֹת עַ֥ל כָּל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
6Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.
וְכֻתְּת֥וּ גוֹי־בְּג֖וֹי וְעִ֣יר בְּעִ֑יר כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים הֲמָמָ֖ם בְּכָל־צָרָֽה׃
7But you, be strong; do not let your hands grow slack, for your work will be rewarded."
וְאַתֶּ֣ם חִזְק֔וּ וְאַל־יִרְפּ֖וּ יְדֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֛י יֵ֥שׁ שָׂכָ֖ר לִפְעֻלַּתְכֶֽם׃ ס
Religious Reforms and Covenant Renewal
Asa carried out extensive religious reforms. He removed idols from the land, deposed Queen Mother Maacah because she had made an abhorrent Asherah image, and led the people in a solemn renewal of the covenant, where they swore to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul.
11Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his forefather had done.
וַיַּ֧עַשׂ אָסָ֛א הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּדָוִ֖ד אָבִֽיו׃
12He drove the cult prostitutes out of the land and swept away all the idols his fathers had made.
וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר הַקְּדֵשִׁ֖ים מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּ֙סַר֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַגִּלֻּלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹתָֽיו׃
13He even removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
וְגַ֣ם ׀ אֶת־מַעֲכָ֣ה אִמּ֗וֹ וַיְסִרֶ֙הָ֙ מִגְּבִירָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה מִפְלֶ֖צֶת לָאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה וַיִּכְרֹ֤ת אָסָא֙ אֶת־מִפְלַצְתָּ֔הּ וַיִּשְׂרֹ֖ף בְּנַ֥חַל קִדְרֽוֹן׃
14The high places, however, were not removed; even so, Asa's heart was wholly devoted to the LORD all his life.
וְהַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־סָ֑רוּ רַ֣ק לְבַב־אָסָ֗א הָיָ֥ה שָׁלֵ֛ם עִם־יְהוָ֖ה כָּל־יָמָֽיו׃
15He brought into the house of the LORD the gifts he and his father had dedicated—silver, gold, and vessels.
וַיָּבֵא֙ אֶת־קָדְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֔יו *וקדשו **וְקָדְשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה כֶּ֥סֶף וְזָהָ֖ב וְכֵלִֽים׃
8When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim, and he restored the altar of the LORD that stood in front of the portico of the LORD's house.
וְכִשְׁמֹ֨עַ אָסָ֜א הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה וְהַנְּבוּאָה֮ עֹדֵ֣ד הַנָּבִיא֒ הִתְחַזַּ֗ק וַיַּעֲבֵ֤ר הַשִּׁקּוּצִים֙ מִכָּל־אֶ֤רֶץ יְהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וּמִן־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָכַ֖ד מֵהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיְחַדֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֣ח יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֕ר לִפְנֵ֖י אוּלָ֥ם יְהוָֽה׃
9Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were living among them—for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
וַיִּקְבֹּ֗ץ אֶת־כָּל־יְהוּדָה֙ וּבִנְיָמִ֔ן וְהַגָּרִים֙ עִמָּהֶ֔ם מֵאֶפְרַ֥יִם וּמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וּמִשִּׁמְע֑וֹן כִּֽי־נָפְל֨וּ עָלָ֤יו מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל֙ לָרֹ֔ב בִּרְאֹתָ֕ם כִּֽי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֖יו עִמּֽוֹ׃ פ
10They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.
וַיִּקָּבְצ֥וּ יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י לִשְׁנַ֥ת חֲמֵשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה לְמַלְכ֥וּת אָסָֽא׃
11That day they sacrificed to the LORD from the plunder they had brought back: seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats.
וַיִּזְבְּח֤וּ לַיהוָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא מִן־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל הֵבִ֑יאוּ בָּקָר֙ שְׁבַ֣ע מֵא֔וֹת וְצֹ֖אן שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִֽים׃
12They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and all their soul.
וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בַבְּרִ֔ית לִדְר֕וֹשׁ אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם בְּכָל־לְבָבָ֖ם וּבְכָל־נַפְשָֽׁם׃
13Whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.
וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יִדְרֹ֛שׁ לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יוּמָ֑ת לְמִן־קָטֹן֙ וְעַד־גָּד֔וֹל לְמֵאִ֖ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּֽׁה׃
14They swore their oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with rams' horns.
וַיִּשָּֽׁבְעוּ֙ לַיהוָ֔ה בְּק֥וֹל גָּד֖וֹל וּבִתְרוּעָ֑ה וּבַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת וּבְשׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃
15All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart and had sought him with wholehearted desire, and he let them find him. And the LORD gave them rest on every side.
וַיִּשְׂמְח֨וּ כָל־יְהוּדָ֜ה עַל־הַשְּׁבוּעָ֗ה כִּ֤י בְכָל־לְבָבָם֙ נִשְׁבָּ֔עוּ וּבְכָל־רְצוֹנָ֣ם בִּקְשֻׁ֔הוּ וַיִּמָּצֵ֖א לָהֶ֑ם וַיָּ֧נַח יְהוָ֛ה לָהֶ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב׃
16King Asa even removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
וְגַֽם־מַעֲכָ֞ה אֵ֣ם ׀ אָסָ֣א הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הֱסִירָהּ֙ מִגְּבִירָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה לַאֲשֵׁרָ֖ה מִפְלָ֑צֶת וַיִּכְרֹ֤ת אָסָא֙ אֶת־מִפְלַצְתָּ֔הּ וַיָּ֕דֶק וַיִּשְׂרֹ֖ף בְּנַ֥חַל קִדְרֽוֹן׃
17The high places were not removed from Israel, yet Asa's heart was fully committed all his days.
וְהַ֨בָּמ֔וֹת לֹא־סָ֖רוּ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל רַ֧ק לְבַב־אָסָ֛א הָיָ֥ה שָׁלֵ֖ם כָּל־יָמָֽיו׃
The Alliance with Aram against Israel
When Baasha, king of Israel, threatened Judah by fortifying Ramah, Asa sought help from Ben-Hadad of Aram instead of trusting in God. He took treasures from the temple and the royal palace to pay for the alliance.
17Baasha king of Israel marched against Judah and fortified Ramah, to cut off all traffic to and from Asa king of Judah.
וַיַּ֨עַל בַּעְשָׁ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֗י תֵּ֚ת יֹצֵ֣א וָבָ֔א לְאָסָ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
18So Asa took all the silver and gold left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD, along with the treasuries of the royal palace, and handed it over to his officials. King Asa sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, king of Aram, who ruled in Damascus, with this message:
וַיִּקַּ֣ח אָ֠סָא אֶת־כָּל־הַכֶּ֨סֶף וְהַזָּהָ֜ב הַֽנּוֹתָרִ֣ים ׀ בְּאוֹצְר֣וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֗ה וְאֶת־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙ בֵּ֣ית *מלך **הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖ם בְּיַד־עֲבָדָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֞ם הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָסָ֗א אֶל־בֶּן־הֲ֠דַד בֶּן־טַבְרִמֹּ֤ן בֶּן־חֶזְיוֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם הַיֹּשֵׁ֥ב בְּדַמֶּ֖שֶׂק לֵאמֹֽר׃
19"Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."
בְּרִית֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ בֵּ֥ין אָבִ֖י וּבֵ֣ין אָבִ֑יךָ הִנֵּה֩ שָׁלַ֨חְתִּֽי לְךָ֥ שֹׁ֙חַד֙ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב לֵ֣ךְ הָפֵ֗רָה אֶת־בְּרִֽיתְךָ֙ אֶת־בַּעְשָׁ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַעֲלֶ֖ה מֵעָלָֽי׃
20Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the cities of Israel. He struck down Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all Kinneroth, along with all the land of Naphtali.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע בֶּן־הֲדַ֜ד אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָסָ֗א וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח אֶת־שָׂרֵ֨י הַחֲיָלִ֤ים אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֙ עַל־עָרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּךְ֙ אֶת־עִיּ֣וֹן וְאֶת־דָּ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת אָבֵ֣ל בֵּֽית־מַעֲכָ֑ה וְאֵת֙ כָּל־כִּנְר֔וֹת עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ נַפְתָּלִֽי׃
21When Baasha heard of it, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.
וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ בַּעְשָׁ֔א וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל מִבְּנ֖וֹת אֶת־הֽ͏ָרָמָ֑ה וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּתִרְצָֽה׃
22Then King Asa summoned all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been building with. With them King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.
וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָסָ֜א הִשְׁמִ֤יעַ אֶת־כָּל־יְהוּדָה֙ אֵ֣ין נָקִ֔י וַיִּשְׂא֞וּ אֶת־אַבְנֵ֤י הָֽרָמָה֙ וְאֶת־עֵצֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָ֖ה בַּעְשָׁ֑א וַיִּ֤בֶן בָּם֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָסָ֔א אֶת־גֶּ֥בַע בִּנְיָמִ֖ן וְאֶת־הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃
1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha king of Israel marched against Judah and fortified Ramah to cut off all traffic in and out for Asa king of Judah.
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וָשֵׁשׁ֙ לְמַלְכ֣וּת אָסָ֔א עָלָ֞ה בַּעְשָׁ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֗י תֵּ֚ת יוֹצֵ֣א וָבָ֔א לְאָסָ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה׃
2Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house and sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who ruled in Damascus, with this message:
וַיֹּצֵ֨א אָסָ֜א כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֗ב מֵאֹֽצְר֛וֹת בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה וּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח אֶל־בֶּן־הֲדַד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם הַיּוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּדַרְמֶ֖שֶׂק לֵאמֹֽר׃
3"Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me."
בְּרִית֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּבֵ֥ין אָבִ֖י וּבֵ֣ין אָבִ֑יךָ הִנֵּ֨ה שָׁלַ֤חְתִּֽי לְךָ֙ כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב לֵ֞ךְ הָפֵ֣ר בְּרִֽיתְךָ֗ אֶת־בַּעְשָׁא֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיַעֲלֶ֖ה מֵעָלָֽי׃
4Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the cities of Israel. They struck Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע בֶּן[c] הֲדַ֜ד אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָסָ֗א וַ֠יִּשְׁלַח אֶת־שָׂרֵ֨י הַחֲיָלִ֤ים אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֙ אֶל־עָרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־עִיּ֣וֹן וְאֶת־דָּ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת אָבֵ֣ל מָ֑יִם וְאֵ֥ת כָּֽל־מִסְכְּנ֖וֹת עָרֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִֽי׃
5When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned the work.
וַיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ בַּעְשָׁ֔א וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל מִבְּנ֖וֹת אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁבֵּ֖ת אֶת־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃ ס
6Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah with which Baasha had been building, and with them he fortified Geba and Mizpah.
וְאָסָ֣א הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לָקַח֙ אֶת־כָּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּשְׂא֞וּ אֶת־אַבְנֵ֤י הָֽרָמָה֙ וְאֶת־עֵצֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָ֖ה בַּעְשָׁ֑א וַיִּ֣בֶן בָּהֶ֔ם אֶת־גֶּ֖בַע וְאֶת־הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃ ס
The Prophet Hanani's Rebuke and Asa's Reaction
The seer Hanani rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Aram rather than on the Lord. Asa became furious, imprisoned Hanani, and at that time also oppressed some of the people.
7At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your hand.
וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא בָּ֚א חֲנָ֣נִי הָרֹאֶ֔ה אֶל־אָסָ֖א מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו בְּהִשָּׁ֨עֶנְךָ֜ עַל־מֶ֤לֶךְ אֲרָם֙ וְלֹ֤א נִשְׁעַ֙נְתָּ֙ עַל־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־כֵּ֗ן נִמְלַ֛ט חֵ֥יל מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֖ם מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃
8Were not the Cushites and the Libyans a mighty army with vast numbers of chariots and horsemen? But when you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand.
הֲלֹ֧א הַכּוּשִׁ֣ים וְהַלּוּבִ֗ים הָי֨וּ לְחַ֧יִל ׀ לָרֹ֛ב לְרֶ֥כֶב וּלְפָרָשִׁ֖ים לְהַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וּבְהִשָּֽׁעֶנְךָ֥ עַל־יְהוָ֖ה נְתָנָ֥ם בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃
9For the eyes of the LORD range through the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are wholly his. In this you have acted foolishly, and from now on you will have wars."
כִּ֣י יְהוָ֗ה עֵינָ֞יו מְשֹׁטְט֤וֹת בְּכָל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לְ֠הִתְחַזֵּק עִם־לְבָבָ֥ם שָׁלֵ֛ם אֵלָ֖יו נִסְכַּ֣לְתָּ עַל־זֹ֑את כִּ֣י מֵעַ֔תָּה יֵ֥שׁ עִמְּךָ֖ מִלְחָמֽוֹת׃
10Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks, for he was enraged at him over this. At that same time Asa also cruelly oppressed some of the people.
וַיִּכְעַ֨ס אָסָ֜א אֶל־הָרֹאֶ֗ה וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית הַמַּהְפֶּ֔כֶת כִּֽי־בְזַ֥עַף עִמּ֖וֹ עַל־זֹ֑את וַיְרַצֵּ֥ץ אָסָ֛א מִן־הָעָ֖ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃
Asa's Illness and Death
In his 39th year as king, Asa was afflicted with a serious foot disease, but even then he did not seek the Lord, only physicians. He died in his 41st year as king and was buried with great honor in the City of David.
11The acts of Asa, from first to last, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
וְהִנֵּה֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י אָסָ֔א הָרִאשׁוֹנִ֖ים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֑ים הִנָּ֤ם כְּתוּבִים֙ עַל־סֵ֣פֶר הַמְּלָכִ֔ים לִיהוּדָ֖ה וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet, and his illness grew severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but turned to physicians.
וַיֶּחֱלֶ֣א אָסָ֡א בִּשְׁנַת֩ שְׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים וָתֵ֤שַׁע לְמַלְכוּתוֹ֙ בְּרַגְלָ֔יו עַד־לְמַ֖עְלָה חָלְי֑וֹ וְגַם־בְּחָלְיוֹ֙ לֹא־דָרַ֣שׁ אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֖י בָּרֹפְאִֽים׃
13So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב אָסָ֖א עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיָּ֕מָת בִּשְׁנַ֛ת אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וְאַחַ֖ת לְמָלְכֽוֹ׃
14They buried him in the tomb he had cut out for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier filled with spices and all kinds of blended perfumes, and they made an enormous fire in his honor.
וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֣הוּ בְקִבְרֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּֽרָה־לוֹ֮ בְּעִ֣יר דָּוִיד֒ וַיַּשְׁכִּיבֻ֗הוּ בַּמִּשְׁכָּב֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִלֵּא֙ בְּשָׂמִ֣ים וּזְנִ֔ים מְרֻקָּחִ֖ים בְּמִרְקַ֣חַת מַעֲשֶׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׂרְפוּ־ל֥וֹ שְׂרֵפָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה עַד־לִמְאֹֽד׃ פ