Os últimos anos de Asa
(1 Rs 15.16-24)
1No ano 36 do reinado de Asa, o rei Bacha de Israel declarou-lhe guerra e construiu a fortaleza de Ramá, a fim de poder controlar a estrada de acesso a Judá.
2A resposta de Asa foi pegar no ouro e na prata do templo e do palácio e enviá-los ao rei Ben-Hadade de Aram, em Damasco, com esta mensagem: 3“Vamos renovar a aliança que existia entre o teu pai e o meu. Mando-te prata e ouro para te convencer a quebrares a aliança com Bacha, rei de Israel, para que me deixe tranquilo.”
4Ben-Hadade aceitou a proposta de Asa e mobilizou o seu exército com o fim de atacar Israel. Destruiu Ijom, Dan, Abel-Maim e todos os centros de reabastecimento em Naftali. 5Ouvindo o que acontecera, Bacha suspendeu os trabalhos que estava a fazer na fortaleza de Ramá. 6O rei Asa e o povo de Judá foram a Ramá, carregaram as pedras e a madeira da construção e usaram-nas para construir Geba e Mizpá.
7Por essa altura, veio ter com Asa o profeta Hanani que lhe disse: “Visto que puseste a tua confiança no rei de Aram e não no Senhor, teu Deus, o exército do rei de Aram escapou da tua mão. 8Não te lembras do que aconteceu ao imenso exército de cuchitas e líbios, com todos os seus carros e cavaleiros? Nesse tempo, confiaste no Senhor e ele entregou-os a todos nas tuas mãos. 9Porque os olhos do Senhor passam por toda a Terra, procurando aqueles cujo coração é reto diante dele, para lhes mostrar o seu poder e o seu socorro. Procedeste loucamente! Daqui em diante haverá guerras contra ti.”
10Asa ficou tão zangado com o profeta, por ter dito estas coisas, que o pôs na masmorra. A partir dessa altura, Asa começou a oprimir duramente alguns do povo.
11O resto dos feitos de Asa está escrito no Livro dos Reis de Israel e de Judá. 12No ano 39 do seu reinado, Asa ficou gravemente doente dos pés, mas nem mesmo assim procurou a ajuda do Senhor; confiou apenas nos médicos. 13Faleceu no ano 41 do seu reinado. 14Foi sepultado no túmulo que mandara construir para si na Cidade de David. Foi colocado numa cama cheia de especiarias e de óleos perfumados e o povo fez-lhe um enterro durante o qual se queimou muito incenso.
Asa’s Last Years
1Baasha was king of Israel. He marched out against Judah. It was in the 36th year of Asa’s rule over Judah. Baasha built up the walls of Ramah. He did it to keep people from leaving or entering the territory of Asa, the king of Judah.
2Asa took the silver and gold from among the treasures of the Lord’s temple and his own palace. He sent it to Ben-Hadad. Ben-Hadad was king of Aram. He was ruling in Damascus. 3“Let’s make a peace treaty between us,” Asa said. “My father and your father had made a peace treaty between them. Now I’m sending you silver and gold. So break your treaty with Baasha, the king of Israel. Then he’ll go back home.”
4Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa. He sent his army commanders against the towns of Israel. His army captured Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the cities in Naphtali where Baasha stored things. 5Baasha heard about it. So he stopped building up Ramah and left that place. 6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah to Ramah. They carried away the stones and wood Baasha had been using. Asa used them to build up Geba and Mizpah.
7At that time Hanani the prophet came to Asa, the king of Judah. He said to him, “You trusted the king of Aram. You didn’t trust in the Lord your God. So the army of the king of Aram has escaped from you. 8The people of Cush and Libya had a strong army. They had large numbers of chariots and horsemen. But you trusted in the Lord. So he handed them over to you. 9The Lord looks out over the whole earth. He gives strength to those who commit their lives completely to him. You have done a foolish thing. From now on you will be at war.”
10Asa was angry with the prophet because of what he had said. In fact, he was so angry he put him in prison. At the same time, Asa treated some of his own people very badly.
11The events of Asa’s rule from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12In the 39th year of Asa’s rule his feet began to hurt. The pain was terrible. But even though he was suffering, he didn’t look to the Lord for help. All he did was go to the doctors. 13In the 41st year of Asa’s rule he joined the members of his family who had already died. 14He was buried in a tomb. He had cut it out for himself in the City of David. His body was laid on a wooden frame. It was covered with spices and different mixes of perfume. A huge fire was made to honor him.
