Bible Strands
1 Kings 15:22
Then King Asa summoned all the men of Judah, with no exceptions, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials King Asa built up Geba of Benjamin, as well as Mizpah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Asa acts during his reign by mobilizing the entire population of Judah to dismantle Baasha's fortifications at Ramah and redirect those materials to strengthen Geba and Mizpah.
The words — הִשְׁמִיעַ (hish.Mi.a') translates literally as "he made proclamation to," paired with אֵין נָקִי ("there was no exempt one") to indicate a universal royal summons that permitted no exceptions.
The thread — The towns of Geba and Mizpah reappear in Joshua 21:17, 18:24, and 18:26 as designated settlements within the tribal allotments of Benjamin and the Levites that Asa now re-fortifies.
Why it lands — The passage records a logistical and military repurposing of enemy resources, requiring the reader to observe how royal command directly translates into architectural and defensive action without narrative judgment.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 21:17 And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,
- Joshua 18:24 Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba—twelve cities, along with their villages.
- Joshua 18:26 Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
- 2 Chronicles 16:6 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.
- 1 Samuel 7:5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
- Jeremiah 40:6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
- Jeremiah 40:10 As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”