Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

1 KINGS 15:18KJV
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1 Kings 15:18 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 15:18 mean?

1 Kings 15:18 describes how King Asa of Judah gathered all the remaining silver and gold from the temple and his own palace and gave it to his servants to deliver as a gift to Benhadad, the king of Syria, who lived in Damascus. Asa sent this treasure to Benhadad as part of a diplomatic effort, hoping to secure his help against a rival king.

In this verse, the focus is on Asa’s political strategy during a time of conflict. Asa is not speaking directly; instead, the verse narrates his actions as he tries to form an alliance with Benhadad by sending valuable treasures. This move shows the lengths to which Asa was willing to go, using both religious and royal resources, to protect his kingdom from threats.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 15:18

  • בֵּית־יְהוָה (beit-YHWH, "house of the LORD") and בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ (beit ha-melekh, "house of the king"): These phrases make it clear that Asa took treasures from both the temple and his own palace, showing the seriousness of his decision and the value of what he sent.
  • אוֹצָר (otzar, "treasure/treasury"): This word emphasizes that Asa was not just sending a small gift, but significant wealth stored up for important uses.
  • יָד (yad, "hand"): The phrase "delivered them into the hand of his servants" uses this word, which often means giving someone authority or responsibility, highlighting that Asa entrusted his servants with a critical mission.

Why 1 Kings 15:18 matters

  • This verse shows how the temple’s resources were sometimes used for political purposes, not just religious ones, which helps explain later criticism of such actions.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of Asa’s reign and the ongoing struggles between Judah, Israel, and neighboring nations, giving context to the alliances and conflicts in this period.
  • Understanding the seriousness of Asa’s action—emptying both the temple and palace treasuries—shows the level of threat he felt and the lengths leaders would go to secure their kingdoms.

Where else these words appear

“Benhadad” Hebrew H1130 · used in 24 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
  • 1 Kings 20:17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
  • 2 Kings 8:9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

“Damascus” Hebrew H1834 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
  • 2 Kings 16:11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.
  • Isaiah 17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

“Asa” Hebrew H609 · used in 52 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 16:15 In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

“treasures” Hebrew H214 · used in 70 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  • 2 Chronicles 5:1 Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.
  • Isaiah 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: