猶大與以色列爭戰

16 亞撒執政第三十六年,以色列王巴沙上來攻打猶大,修築拉瑪,企圖隔斷猶大王亞撒與外界的聯繫。 於是,亞撒收集耶和華殿裡和王宮庫房裡的金銀,派人送給住在大馬士革的亞蘭王便·哈達,說: 「我們之間應立盟約,像我們的父親之間立約一樣,現在奉上金銀為禮,請你取消與以色列王巴沙立的盟約。這樣,他就會從我境內退兵。」 便·哈達接受了亞撒王的提議,派將領攻打以色列的城邑,攻佔了以雲、但、亞伯·瑪音和拿弗他利所有的儲貨城。 巴沙聞訊,就停止修築拉瑪。 亞撒王率領全體猶大人,將巴沙修築拉瑪所用的石頭和木材全部搬走,用來修建迦巴和米斯巴。

哈拿尼先見

那時,哈拿尼先見晉見猶大王亞撒說:「因為你不倚靠你的上帝耶和華,反而倚靠亞蘭王,所以亞蘭王的軍隊已經從你手中逃脫。 古實人與路比人不是一支強大的軍隊嗎?他們的戰車騎兵不是極多嗎?然而,因為你倚靠耶和華,耶和華就把他們交在你手中。 耶和華的眼目遍察天下,彰顯大能來扶助那些全心歸向祂的人。你做了愚蠢的事!從此以後,你必遭遇戰禍。」 10 亞撒聽了就對先見發怒,把他囚禁在監獄裡,同時又壓迫一些民眾。

亞撒逝世

11 亞撒其他的事自始至終都記在猶大和以色列的列王史上。 12 亞撒執政第三十九年患了嚴重的腳病。然而,他在病中卻沒有尋求耶和華的幫助,只尋求醫生的幫助。 13 亞撒在他執政第四十一年去世,與他祖先同眠, 14 葬在大衛城他為自己鑿的墳墓裡。民眾把他放在堆滿精心調製的各種香料的床上,又點了一堆大火向他致哀。

犹大与以色列争战

16 亚撒执政第三十六年,以色列王巴沙上来攻打犹大,修筑拉玛,企图隔断犹大王亚撒与外界的联系。 于是,亚撒收集耶和华殿里和王宫库房里的金银,派人送给住在大马士革的亚兰王便·哈达,说: “我们之间应立盟约,像我们的父亲之间立约一样,现在奉上金银为礼,请你取消与以色列王巴沙立的盟约。这样,他就会从我境内退兵。” 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。 巴沙闻讯,就停止修筑拉玛。 亚撒王率领全体犹大人,将巴沙修筑拉玛所用的石头和木材全部搬走,用来修建迦巴和米斯巴。

哈拿尼先见

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。 古实人与路比人不是一支强大的军队吗?他们的战车骑兵不是极多吗?然而,因为你倚靠耶和华,耶和华就把他们交在你手中。 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 亚撒其他的事自始至终都记在犹大和以色列的列王史上。 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。

Final Years of Asa’s Reign

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah.

Asa responded by removing the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:

“Let there be a treaty[a] between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.”

Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah,[b] and all the store cities in Naphtali. As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and stopped all work on it. Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians[c] and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers?[d] At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you. The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

10 Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people.

Summary of Asa’s Reign

11 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. 13 So he died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor.

Footnotes

  1. 16:3 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads There is a treaty.
  2. 16:4 As in parallel text at 1 Kgs 15:20; Hebrew reads Abel-maim, another name for Abel-beth-maacah.
  3. 16:8a Hebrew Cushites.
  4. 16:8b Or and horsemen?