Bible Strands
1 Kings 15:17
Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Baasha king of Israel initiates a military campaign against Judah during the prolonged conflict with King Asa. He targets Ramah to sever all movement into and out of Asa’s territory.
The words — The narrative uses וַ/יַּ֨עַל (va/i.Ya.'al), meaning "and he came up," to describe Baasha’s advance, followed by וַ/יִּ֖בֶן (va/i.Yi.ven), meaning "and he built," for the fortification work.
The thread — This strategic use of Ramah echoes 1 Kings 12:27, where it is feared as a religious stronghold, and parallels the fortified city listed in Joshua 18:25. The same campaign is recorded in 2 Chronicles 16:1 as part of the broader Judah-Israel conflict.
Why it lands — The text states that Baasha fortified Ramah to block all movement into and out of Asa’s territory. Readers must recognize how controlling key geographic points functioned as a primary method of political and military survival in the divided monarchy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 12:27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
- Joshua 18:25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
- 2 Chronicles 16:1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
- 1 Kings 15:21 When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.
- 1 Samuel 15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
- 1 Kings 15:27 Then Baasha son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against Nadab, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon of the Philistines while Nadab and all Israel were besieging the city.
- 2 Chronicles 11:13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
- Jeremiah 31:15 This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”