The next 50 years in the war between Israel and Judah include 4 more kings, faith based family feud, a deposed queen mother, the construction of a separation wall and a regional war.
Abiyam replaces Rehoboam, his father on the throne and rules Judah for three years before his own son, Asa takes over and manages to keep hold of the crown for the next 41 years.
Asa prefers the old religious ways of Judah, removes and destroys the idols and the sacred sex shrines, including the massive goddess structure he calls ‘monstrous’ erected by his own mother, Maacha, whom he removes from her prestigious position as Queen Mother.
Meanwhile, three years into Asa’s reign, across the border in the north, Nadav, Jeroboam’s son ruled for only two years before Baasha, one of the local chieftains, from the tribe of Issachar, assassinated him mid battle with the Philistines.
Baasha not only kills the king but makes sure to decimate every male descendant of Jeroboam’s family, fulfilling the terrible prophecy from the previous chapter.
Asa and Basha, third generation of the war between the brothers Israel and Judah really don't see eye to eye. Basha has an idea that will bring his rival to his knees.
He fortifies the periphery of Ramah, the old town where the Prophet Samuel was from, just 10 miles north of Jerusalem. He builds an actual border:
וַיַּ֨עַל בַּעְשָׁ֤א מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה לְבִלְתִּ֗י תֵּ֚ת יֹצֵ֣א וָבָ֔א לְאָסָ֖א מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה
King Baasha of Israel advanced against Judah, and he fortified Ramah to prevent anyone belonging to King Asa from going out or coming in.
The wall is meant to stop the trade from Judah to its neighbors in the east and north. And it’s successful.
Asa is so pressured by the blockade that he does what has not been done before: He appeals to the regional powers in the far north, - the Aramean Kingdom, with its capital in Damascus (today’s Syria) and asks to strengthen their covenant at the expense of the covenant already signed between Israel and the Arameans. Ben-Hadad, King of Aram takes the gold bribe sent by Asa, whatever still remains in the royal coffers, and accepts the deal. He wages war on Israel and takes over the territory that today we know as the Golan Heights.
Basha backs down.
Asa takes the bricks from Basha’s wall and uses them for his own fortifications.
The hostility between the north and south continues, except two things shifted in this chapter: First, the wall - as is so often the case in regional conflicts -- including the one in that same region right now -- a brick and mortar wall is already a fact on the ground that is harder to remove than mere fences. Even though this wall built by Basha will not last - the impact of its existence will linger for a long long time.
Second - no longer internal struggle, Asa’s plea for help from Damascus is an invitation for foreign forces with their own interests to meddle in the mess, which they do.
This is a new low.
Asa makes it to old age, and though he can’t walk anymore, still holds on to the crown and until he too dies, buried in Jerusalem, and hands it over to his son Yehoshafat.
Basha will retain the throne for 24 years, in this capital city, Tirza, in Samaria, only 50 miles away.
The wall is down but the war continues to the next generation.
Below the Bible Belt: 929 chapters, 42 months, daily reflections.
Become a free or paid subscriber and join Rabbi Amichai’s 3+ years interactive online quest to question, queer + re-read between the lines of the entire Hebrew Bible.
Enjoy daily posts, weekly videos and monthly learning sessions. 2022-2025.
How can a closer and critical reading of this cornerstone of our culture help us rethink our values and live more honest, happy, healthy lives?
#Kings #Kings1:15 #Melachim #BookofKings #Prophets #Neviim #Hebrewbible #whowrotethebible? #Tanach #hebrewmyth #929 #hiddenbible #sefaria #labshul #belowthebiblebelt929 #postpatriarchy #civilwarinisrael #Baasha #goddess #iconoclastic #kingdomofisrael #kingdomofjudah #Arammean #civilwar #idolatry #godessworship #boarders #separationwall #endtheoccupation #nomorewar