“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,”
My Notes
What Does 1 Kings 15:18 Mean?
"Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD... and sent them to Ben-hadad." King Asa strips the Temple treasury to bribe the king of Syria into attacking Israel. The gold that Solomon accumulated — the sacred wealth dedicated to God's house — becomes the payment for a military alliance with a pagan king. The Temple treasury funds a foreign policy strategy.
The phrase "that were left" (hannotar) implies the Temple has already been partially depleted — possibly by Shishak's earlier raid (14:26). What survived one plundering is now voluntarily surrendered by Israel's own king. The gold that Egypt took by force, Asa gives away by choice. The Temple is emptied from both sides: enemies take what kings give away.
The alliance works — Ben-hadad attacks Israel's northern cities (verse 20) and relieves the pressure on Judah. The strategy succeeds militarily. But the prophet Hanani later rebukes Asa for it (2 Chronicles 16:7): "thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God." The success is the problem: the strategy worked, which means Asa will trust Syria instead of God next time too.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What sacred resource are you spending on human solutions instead of trusting God?
- 2.Why is a successful strategy that bypasses God more dangerous than a failed one?
- 3.What does emptying the Temple to fund foreign policy teach about misallocating sacred resources?
- 4.What 'Syria alliance' are you building that works militarily but fails spiritually?
Devotional
Asa empties the Temple to bribe a pagan king. The sacred gold — what's left of Solomon's magnificent investment — becomes payment for a military alliance Asa could have received from God for free. The king who should have prayed paid instead.
The 'that were left' tells the secondary story: the Temple has already been raided. Shishak of Egypt took most of it (14:26). Rehoboam replaced the gold shields with bronze (14:27). Now Asa voluntarily surrenders what remained. The Temple that Solomon filled with gold is being emptied — by enemies and by kings — until the sacred treasury is bare.
The strategy works, which is the worst part: Ben-hadad attacks Israel, relieves the pressure on Judah, and the crisis ends. The alliance succeeds. The Temple money achieves its objective. And Asa learns exactly the wrong lesson: paying Syria works better than praying to God. The success of the strategy prevents the success of faith.
Hanani's rebuke (2 Chronicles 16:7-9) identifies the real damage: you relied on Syria instead of the LORD. The military victory was a spiritual failure. The strategy that solved the immediate crisis created a dependency that will plague Judah for generations: whenever trouble comes, bribe Damascus. The one-time tactic becomes the permanent crutch.
What Temple gold — what sacred resource — are you spending on human alliances because trusting God feels too risky? The payment might work. The strategy might succeed. And the success might be the most dangerous outcome of all.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not…
Left - Or, according to another reading, “found.” The wealthy condition of the temple treasury is sufficiently indicated…
Asa took all the silver - Shishak, king of Egypt, had not taken the whole, or there had been some treasures brought in…
We have here a short account of the reign of Asa; we shall find a more copious history of it Ch2 14:1-15, 15, and Ch2…
Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimon[R.V. Tabrimmon] the son of Hezion, king of Syria This is the earliest of the three kings…
Cross References
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