1 Kings 15 22

1 Kings 15:22 kjv

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.

1 Kings 15:22 nkjv

Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

1 Kings 15:22 niv

Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah?no one was exempt?and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and also Mizpah.

1 Kings 15:22 esv

Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.

1 Kings 15:22 nlt

Then King Asa sent an order throughout Judah, requiring that everyone, without exception, help to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the town of Geba in Benjamin and the town of Mizpah.

1 Kings 15 verses

1 Kings 15 22 Meaning

King Asa of Judah initiated a mandatory, kingdom-wide civilian mobilization, leaving no one exempt, to dismantle the border fortification Baasha, king of Israel, had been building at Ramah. The salvaged stones and timbers were then repurposed by King Asa to fortify the cities of Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah, establishing Judah's strategic advantage against the Northern Kingdom. This act showcased decisive leadership and effective national organization in a time of military threat.

1 Kings 15 22 Context

h2The verse is situated in the middle of King Asa’s long and generally righteous reign over Judah (913-873 BCE). Asa began his rule by reforming Judah, removing idolatry, and relying on the Lord, leading to an initial period of peace and strengthening of the kingdom. This peaceful era was broken when Baasha, King of Israel, aggressively moved to blockade Judah by fortifying Ramah, a strategic choke point approximately five miles north of Jerusalem on the main road. This construction by Baasha was aimed at preventing traffic and trade between Judah and the northern parts of Israel, essentially asserting control over critical routes and isolating Jerusalem. In response, Asa, instead of relying solely on the Lord as he had done previously in the face of the Cushite army, entered into an alliance with Ben-Hadad I of Aram (Syria) by sending him treasures. This alliance led Ben-Hadad to attack Israel's northern territories, forcing Baasha to withdraw his forces from Ramah. Seizing this opportunity, Asa executed the massive, comprehensive operation detailed in this verse, repurposing the enemy's building materials to strengthen his own kingdom's defenses. This demonstrates Asa's political and military astuteness, even if his means of achieving Baasha's retreat were later criticized by a prophet for lack of reliance on God. The fortification of Geba (about six miles north of Jerusalem) and Mizpah (also north, possibly at Tell en-Nasbeh, five miles NW of Geba) significantly bolstered Judah's northern frontier.

1 Kings 15 22 Word analysis

h2

• Then King Asa: King Asa (Hebrew: אָסָא ʾAsaʾ), reigned approximately 41 years (913–873 BCE) over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He is mostly portrayed as a righteous king, restoring proper worship of Yahweh, although he made some strategic missteps later in his reign, notably relying on the king of Aram rather than exclusively on God and his subsequent harshness towards the prophet Hanani. His actions here demonstrate a pragmatic, strong response to a clear and immediate military threat.
• made a proclamation (Hebrew: וַיַּשְׁמַע vayyashmaʿ, Hiphil conjugation of שָׁמַע shamaʿ): Literally, "and he caused to hear," or "he caused to make heard." This implies a public announcement or decree issued by royal authority. It suggests a formal and public directive to the entire kingdom, demanding universal participation.
• to all Judah: Refers to the entire kingdom of Judah, emphasizing the scope of the royal command. This was not a localized effort but a kingdom-wide mobilization.
• none was exempt (Hebrew: אֵין נָקִי ʾēn naqiʾ): This is a crucial phrase. The word נָקִי (naqiʾ) means "innocent," "clean," "free," or "exempt." In this context, it signifies "no one was free from obligation," meaning universal conscription for this particular task. This implies a general levy, involving every able-bodied person, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the national effort. Unlike general forced labor (corvée) often imposed by kings, this appears to be a mobilization for immediate defense, potentially seen as a patriotic duty, with broad public support given the threat. It suggests that all social classes, or at least all men capable of physical labor, were called to participate.
• and they carried away: The impersonal plural verb indicates the general population's involvement in the physical act of transporting the materials. It speaks to the collective and overwhelming effort.
• the stones of Ramah and its timbers: Refers to the very materials (construction stones and wooden beams) that Baasha had painstakingly used to build his fortification. Ramah was a key strategic point controlling the north-south trade route near Jerusalem. The dismantling and repurposing of these materials symbolize the reversal of enemy aggression and the transformation of a hostile structure into a defensive asset for Judah. This action was highly symbolic—dismantling an enemy stronghold and turning its resources against the enemy.
• with which Baasha had built: Emphasizes the origin of the materials, underscoring the irony and strategic triumph of using an enemy's efforts against him. It's a deliberate act of subverting Baasha's purpose.
• and with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah: Geba and Mizpah were strategically important cities in the tribal territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem. By fortifying these, Asa effectively secured Judah’s northern border, creating a new defensive line and preventing future incursions from Israel. This was a direct counter-strategy to Baasha’s attempts to control access to Judah.

• "none was exempt" + "all Judah" + "they carried away": This combination highlights an extraordinary, universal civilian conscription. It indicates that the emergency and the king's authority were sufficient to rally the entire kingdom for a labor-intensive national defense project. This suggests a strong national resolve and a king with considerable sway and support from his people for this specific action, perhaps differing from general oppressive corvée labor often associated with Solomon.
• "stones...and timbers" + "with which Baasha had built" + "King Asa built": This forms a complete cycle of repurposing. The enemy's investment of labor and materials is negated and then weaponized against him. This act symbolizes strategic victory, resourcefulness, and efficiency, turning the tables on an aggressor. It demonstrates pragmatic military strategy to conserve resources and expedite defense.
• "Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah": These cities were close enough to control vital roadways but further south than Ramah, providing Judah with a more secure buffer zone near its capital, Jerusalem. The choice of these locations underlines Asa's foresight in establishing a strong defensive perimeter rather than just destroying Ramah.

1 Kings 15 22 Bonus section

h2The mandatory nature implied by "none was exempt" (אֵין נָקִי ein naqi) for this national labor contrasts sharply with instances of forced labor or corvée (e.g., during Solomon's reign, 1 Kgs 5:13), which were often seen as burdensome or oppressive. In Asa's case, it might have been perceived by the populace as a necessary, unified patriotic effort for survival against an immediate threat, rather than a long-term drain on resources or royal self-aggrandizement. The act of dismantling an enemy's fortification and then using those same materials for one's own defense embodies a significant psychological victory. It symbolized turning the enemy's strength into one's own, reinforcing national pride and trust in the leadership, at least for this particular endeavor. The strategic re-establishment of defensive cities like Geba and Mizpah secured vital trade and movement routes into the heart of Judah, making them critical outposts against future aggression from the Northern Kingdom.

1 Kings 15 22 Commentary

h21 Kings 15:22 is a concise account of King Asa's swift and decisive response to a military threat posed by Baasha of Israel. This verse stands as a testament to effective leadership, strategic thinking, and national unity. Asa capitalized on the withdrawal of Baasha’s forces—precipitated by Asa's alliance with Ben-Hadad (an action later condemned as lacking trust in God)—by immediately repurposing the very materials Baasha used to blockade Judah. The phrase "none was exempt" underscores the universal mobilization of the kingdom's populace, demonstrating the king's strong authority and perhaps a united will in the face of foreign aggression. This massive public works effort effectively dismantled an enemy stronghold and transformed its components into defensive bulwarks for Judah at Geba and Mizpah. This not only denied Baasha his strategic gain but also secured Judah's northern border, providing critical control over access to Jerusalem. It highlights a pragmatic and resourceful approach to national defense, turning a liability into a formidable asset.