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.
Then King Asa made an announcement throughout all of Judah that no one was excused from helping. They took away all the stones and timber that Baasha had used to build up Ramah, and King Asa used those same materials to build up Geba in Benjamin and Mizpah.
King Asa mobilized all his people to tear down enemy fortifications and use those materials to strengthen his own strategic cities.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred around 900 BC when King Baasha of Israel had been building up the city of Ramah to block trade and movement between Israel and Judah. After Asa bribed the king of Syria to attack Israel, forcing Baasha to abandon his project, Asa seized the opportunity to strengthen his own border defenses using the abandoned building materials.
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