2. Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the royal palace and sent them to Aram’s King Ben-hadad, who ruled in Damascus, with the following message:
3. "Let’s make a covenant similar to the one between our fathers. Since I have already sent you silver and gold, break your covenant with Israel’s King Baasha so that he will leave me alone."
4. Ben-hadad agreed with King Asa and sent his army commanders against the cities of Israel, attacking Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.
5. As soon as Baasha learned of this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work.
6. Then King Asa had all Judah carry away the stone and timber that Baasha was using to build Ramah, and King Asa used it to build Geba and Mizpah.
7. At that time Hanani the seer came to Judah’s King Asa and said to him, "Because you relied on Aram’s king and not on the Lord your God, the army of Aram’s king has slipped out of your grasp.