Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
2 Chronicles 16:1–6, “In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.”
After Asa had been king for thirty five years, Baasha, king of Israel came down to attack Judah. He built a large city to act as the base for his campaign. Asa panicked and took the treasures from the Temple and sent them to Benhadad the Syrian king. There were quite a few Syrian kings called Benhadad, it seems to more of a title than a personal name and means “Son of (the god) Hadad”. This is similar to Egyptian kings being called Pharaoh or Roman emperors being called Caesar. Benhadad took the riches and began to attack some of Israel’s northern cities so they left their campaign and went to defend their own territory. Asa called upon his men to destroy Baasha’s campaign city and used the materials to build his own garrison cities to defend Judah.
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