2 Chronicles 16:6

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.

Then Asa {H609} the king {H4428} took {H3947} all Judah {H3063}; and they carried away {H5375} the stones {H68} of Ramah {H7414}, and the timber {H6086} thereof, wherewith Baasha {H1201} was building {H1129}; and he built {H1129} therewith Geba {H1387} and Mizpah {H4709}.

Asa the king took all Y'hudah and carried off the stones and timber which Ba'asha had used to fortify Ramah. With them he fortified Geva and Mitzpah.

Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.

Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:6 details a clever and decisive military action by King Asa of Judah against his northern rival, King Baasha of Israel. This verse showcases Asa's strategic thinking in turning an enemy's efforts into his own advantage.

Context

This event occurs during a period of intense rivalry between the divided kingdoms of Judah (south) and Israel (north). King Baasha of Israel had begun fortifying Ramah, a strategic city located just a few miles north of Jerusalem, effectively creating a blockade and pressuring Judah. King Asa, instead of relying solely on God for deliverance, formed an alliance with Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, by sending him silver and gold from the temple treasury (2 Chronicles 16:2-5). This alliance prompted Ben-hadad to attack Israel, forcing Baasha to abandon his construction project at Ramah to defend his own territory. Seizing this opportunity, Asa mobilized all Judah to dismantle Baasha's partially completed fortifications.

Key Themes

  • Strategic Resourcefulness: Asa displayed remarkable ingenuity. Instead of merely destroying Baasha's work, he repurposed the very stones and timber that had been gathered for a hostile purpose, using them to strengthen his own defenses.
  • Military Acumen: By building up Geba and Mizpah, Asa secured key border towns that controlled vital routes into Judah, effectively turning a defensive vulnerability into a strategic advantage.
  • Inter-Kingdom Conflict: This verse is a snapshot of the ongoing tensions and military skirmishes that characterized the relationship between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel after their division.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV terms "stones" and "timber" refer to the fundamental building materials of the ancient Near East. There are no deep linguistic nuances in the original Hebrew for these specific words that would alter their plain meaning here. The significance lies in their removal and reuse, highlighting Asa's practical and opportunistic approach.

Strategic Implications and Application

While 2 Chronicles 16:6 demonstrates King Asa's impressive tactical skill and resourcefulness in securing his kingdom, it is crucial to view this victory within the broader narrative of his reign. The preceding verses reveal that Asa's success here was facilitated by his reliance on a foreign alliance rather than complete trust in God. This decision later drew a strong rebuke from the prophet Hanani (2 Chronicles 16:7-9), who reminded Asa that the Lord's eyes are on those who are wholeheartedly devoted to Him.

For contemporary readers, this passage offers a dual lesson: it encourages strategic thinking and efficient use of available resources in facing challenges, but it also serves as a powerful reminder that true and lasting victory, security, and peace ultimately come from placing our trust fully in God, not in human strength, clever schemes, or worldly alliances. We are called to be wise stewards and strategic thinkers, yet always with our foundation firmly in divine providence.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:22

    Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none [was] exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

  • Zechariah 14:10

    All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.

  • Joshua 18:24

    And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:

  • Joshua 18:26

    And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,

  • 1 Chronicles 6:60

    And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families [were] thirteen cities.

  • 1 Samuel 10:17

    ¶ And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;

  • 1 Samuel 7:6

    And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
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