Asa’s Last Years
1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
2Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 3“Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
4Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim16:4 Also known as Abel Beth Maakah and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. 6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
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 from your hand. 8Were not the Cushites16:8 That is, people from the upper Nile region and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen16:8 Or charioteers? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. 9For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
10Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.
11The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. 13Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. 14They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor.
犹大与以色列争战
1亚撒执政第三十六年，以色列王巴沙上来攻打犹大，并修筑拉玛，不许任何人进出犹大王亚撒的地界。 2于是，亚撒取出耶和华殿里和王宫库房里的金银，送给大马士革的亚兰王便·哈达，说： 3“我们之间应立盟约，像我们的父辈间立约一样，现在奉上金银为礼，请你取消与以色列王巴沙的盟约。这样，他就会从我境内退兵。” 4便·哈达接受了亚撒王的提议，派将领攻打以色列的城邑，攻占了以云、但、亚伯·玛音和拿弗他利所有的储货城。 5巴沙闻讯，就停止修筑拉玛。 6亚撒王率领全体犹大人，将巴沙修筑拉玛的石头和木材搬走，用它们修建迦巴和米斯巴。
哈拿尼先见
7那时，哈拿尼先见晋见犹大王亚撒说：“因为你不倚靠你的上帝耶和华，反而倚靠亚兰王，所以亚兰王的军队已经从你手中逃脱。 8古实人与利比亚人不是一支战车骑兵极多的强大军队吗？然而，因为你倚靠耶和华，耶和华就把他们交在你手中。 9耶和华的眼目遍察天下，彰显大能来扶助那些全心归向祂的人。你做了愚蠢的事！从此以后，你必遭遇战祸。” 10亚撒听了就对先见发怒，把他囚禁在监狱里，同时又压迫一些民众。
亚撒逝世
11亚撒的事自始至终都记在《犹大和以色列列王史》上。 12亚撒执政第三十九年患了严重的脚病。然而，他在病中却没有寻求耶和华的帮助，只寻求医生的帮助。 13亚撒在他执政第四十一年去世，与他祖先同眠， 14葬在大卫城他为自己凿的坟墓里。民众把他放在堆满精心调制的各种香料的床上，又点了一堆大火向他致哀。
