The Meaning of 1 Kings 15:22 Explained

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.

YLT: And king Asa hath summoned all Judah -- there is none exempt -- and they lift up the stones of Ramah, and its wood, that Baasha hath built, and king Asa buildeth with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

Darby: And king Asa called together all Judah: none was exempted; and they carried away the stones and the timber from Ramah, with which Baasha had been building; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

ASV: Then king Asa made a proclamation unto all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Kings 15:22 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Kings 15:16-34 - Warring Brethren
We obtain a fuller view of the events described in the earlier part of this passage by reference to 2 Chronicles 16:1-6. Asa's early piety, which shone out in his drastic purging of idolatry and the corruptions which sprang up like fungi on a damp soil, cannot be questioned. Strange that such a man, who, by faith in God, had driven back Zerah's formidable invasion, should in later years succumb to the craven methods of mere expediency in his conflict with Baasha.
This league with Ben-hadad arose from unbelief. Even true believers are sometimes hard pressed to maintain their integrity, because the trials of faith tend to increase. When Peter looked at the rising billows, his heart became troubled and he began to sink. To Asa's alliance with this heathen king may be traced the beginning of the downfall of both kingdoms-of the ten tribes and of Judah. Palestine was no longer a neutral state, but became involved in the political combinations of the time. Those that honor God are honored, 1 Samuel 2:30; those that put their trust elsewhere rue it all their days. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Kings 15

1  Abijam's wicked reign
7  Asa succeeds him
9  Asa's good reign
16  The war between Baasha and him causes him to make a league with Ben-Hadad
23  Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa
25  Nadab's wicked reign
27  Baasha conspiring against him, executes Ahijah's prophecy
31  Nadab's acts and death
33  Baasha's wicked reign

What do the individual words in 1 Kings 15:22 mean?

And King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah none [was] exempted and they took away - the stones of Ramah and timber which had used for building Baasha and built with them King Asa Geba of Benjamin Mizpah
וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אָסָ֜א הִשְׁמִ֤יעַ אֶת־ כָּל־ יְהוּדָה֙ אֵ֣ין נָקִ֔י וַיִּשְׂא֞וּ אֶת־ אַבְנֵ֤י הָֽרָמָה֙ וְאֶת־ עֵצֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָ֖ה בַּעְשָׁ֑א וַיִּ֤בֶן בָּם֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אָסָ֔א גֶּ֥בַע בִּנְיָמִ֖ן הַמִּצְפָּֽה

וְהַמֶּ֨לֶךְ  And  King 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אָסָ֜א  Asa 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָא  
Sense: king of Judah, son of Abijam, father of Jehoshaphat.
הִשְׁמִ֤יעַ  made  a  proclamation 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶת־  throughout 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוּדָה֙  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
אֵ֣ין  none 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
נָקִ֔י  [was]  exempted 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָקִי 
Sense: clean, free from, exempt, clear, innocent.
וַיִּשְׂא֞וּ  and  they  took  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַבְנֵ֤י  the  stones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
הָֽרָמָה֙  of  Ramah 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָמָה 
Sense: a town in Benjamin on the border of Ephraim about 5 miles (8 km) from Jerusalem and near to Gibeah.
עֵצֶ֔יהָ  timber 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
בָּנָ֖ה  had  used  for  building 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
בַּעְשָׁ֑א  Baasha 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּעְשָׁא  
Sense: third king of the northern kingdom of Israel and the founder of its second dynasty having killed the second king, Nadab.
וַיִּ֤בֶן  and  built 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
בָּם֙  with  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ  King 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אָסָ֔א  Asa 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָא  
Sense: king of Judah, son of Abijam, father of Jehoshaphat.
גֶּ֥בַע  Geba 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֶּבַע  
Sense: a city in Benjamin, modern ‘Jeba’, which stands on the top of a steep terraced hill, six miles or ten kilometres north east of Jerusalem and three miles or five kilometres from Gibeah, on the edge of the Wadi Suweinit looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Michmash, modern ‘Mukhmas’.
בִּנְיָמִ֖ן  of  Benjamin 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּנְיָמִין 
Sense: Jacob’s and Rachel’s youngest son, Joseph’s full brother.
הַמִּצְפָּֽה  Mizpah 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְפָּה  
Sense: a place in Gilead north of Jabbok and location of Laban’s cairn.