And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this as a simple account of conquest, but notice that Ben-hadad, the powerful king of Aram, listened to Asa's bribe. This wasn't just about military might; it highlights how worldly power and alliances can be bought, setting a precedent for prioritizing personal gain over what's right. This decision ultimately plunged Israel into further division and conflict.
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Asa of Judah, desperate to protect his kingdom from the northern nation of Israel, makes a costly decision to bribe the Syrian king, Ben-hadad, with treasures from the temple. Ben-hadad agrees to this deal, turning his military might against Israel instead of Judah. This alliance with a foreign pagan king, though successful in repelling Israel's attacks against Judah, is presented as a significant spiritual compromise for Asa.
When faced with a powerful enemy, what's your first instinct? To trust in God, or to find a 'friend' in high places?
King Asa of Judah was under threat from Baasha, the king of Israel. Instead of seeking God's help, Asa made a dangerous deal. He sent valuable treasures from the Temple and his own palace to Ben-hadad, the powerful king of Aram (Syria). This verse shows the immediate result of that earthly alliance: Ben-hadad attacked Israel, weakening them, but at what ultimate cost to Asa's own spiritual integrity?
Sometimes, the 'solution' we seek can create even deeper problems down the road.
Asa bought peace with Israel by paying off Ben-hadad. It seems like a clever political move – get a powerful ally to fight your enemy. Ben-hadad attacked, conquering northern cities of Israel. This sounds like a win for Asa, right? But this passage is a stark reminder that earthly solutions, especially those born from a lack of faith, often have hidden consequences. By relying on human might and foreign kings, Asa set a precedent that would eventually leave Judah vulnerable.
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This passage highlights the dangerous consequences of political maneuvering. King Asa, instead of fully trusting God, relies on an alliance with the powerful Aramean king Ben-hadad I. This alliance, though initially seeming to solve Judah's problem with Israel, plunges the northern cities into conflict and demonstrates how human alliances can lead to further devastation.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This division creates a lasting political tension and sets the stage for internal conflict and external manipulation.
c. 911–870 BC
Reign of Asa of Judah
Asa rules as king of Judah, known for his efforts to purge idolatry and his reliance on God early in his reign. However, he later makes political alliances that prove less than ideal.
c. 885 BC
Ben-hadad I Becomes King of Aram-Damascus
Ben-hadad I, son of Tabrimon and grandson of Hezion, ascends to the throne of Aram-Damascus (Syria). He likely inherited a strong kingdom with ambitions toward its neighbors.
c. 875 BC— this verse
Asa's Treaty with Ben-hadad I
Facing pressure from the Northern Kingdom of Israel under King Baasha, Asa of Judah pays tribute to Ben-hadad I of Aram-Damascus. Ben-hadad breaks his treaty with Asa and attacks Israel instead, conquering key northern cities.
c. 874 BC
Baasha's Reign Ends
Baasha, king of Israel, is assassinated, ending his dynasty and bringing further instability to the Northern Kingdom.
This passage describes the same northern territories being conquered by the Assyrians, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability and conflict within the northern kingdom of Israel.
Isaiah 9:1Isaiah prophesies about a future light coming to the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, the very lands conquered by Ben-hadad, suggesting a divine hope amidst this historical devastation.
Jeremiah 46:2This verse mentions Necho, the king of Egypt, marching against the same general northern region of Israel (near Carchemish), showing that these lands were frequently a strategic battleground for regional powers.
1 Kings 20:1-21This chapter details an earlier, larger conflict between Israel and Syria (led by Ben-hadad), illustrating a pattern of Syrian aggression against Israel and Israel's struggle for survival.
It's easy to read this as a simple account of conquest, but notice that Ben-hadad, the powerful king of Aram, listened to Asa's bribe. This wasn't just about military might; it highlights how worldly power and alliances can be bought, setting a precedent for prioritizing personal gain over what's right. This decision ultimately plunged Israel into further division and conflict.
King Asa of Judah, desperate to protect his kingdom from the northern nation of Israel, makes a costly decision to bribe the Syrian king, Ben-hadad, with treasures from the temple. Ben-hadad agrees to this deal, turning his military might against Israel instead of Judah. This alliance with a foreign pagan king, though successful in repelling Israel's attacks against Judah, is presented as a significant spiritual compromise for Asa.
King Asa of Judah, desperate to protect his kingdom from the northern nation of Israel, makes a costly decision to bribe the Syrian king, Ben-hadad, with treasures from the temple. Ben-hadad agrees to this deal, turning his military might against Israel instead of Judah. This alliance with a foreign pagan king, though successful in repelling Israel's attacks against Judah, is presented as a significant spiritual compromise for Asa.
"And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali." — It's easy to read this as a simple account of conquest, but notice that Ben-hadad, the powerful king of Aram, listened to Asa's bribe. This wasn't just about military might; it highlights how world…
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Last reviewed October 2026