The plan of King Asa appeared to be successful on a human level. Ben-hadad took the gift (we might call it a bribe) and broke the covenant he had with Baasha. That rupture of the alliance was not merely diplomatic; Ben-hadad sent his armies into battle against Israel. Specifically, he conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, Chinneroth, and the territory of Naphtali.
There is, however, something more to consider before we proceed. Despite the warfare between them, the people of Israel and the people of Judah were brethren. In encouraging Ben-hadad to go to war against Israel, Asa was subjecting the northern kingdom to an army that practiced great cruelty in warfare. This cruelty included, the Bible tells us, the ripping open of pregnant women.
Yes, Israel was greatly disobedient, but they still were God’s covenant people. For Judah to war against them when they attacked her was one thing, but to hand them over to the Syrians
was another.
Another matter for criticism is that Asa trusted in human deliverance instead of divine. Second Chronicles tells us that in a former conflict with the Ethiopians, who had greatly superior forces, Asa sought the Lord for rescue and found it. His faith should have deepened in his old age, but sadly, he did not.
The fact that his trust was misplaced is illustrated in Scripture by the alliance's short-lived nature. By the time of King Ahaz of Judah, Israel and Syria
were again allies against Judah (see Isaiah 7:1–9). A nation that can break a treaty against your enemy can also break its treaty with you. The only everlasting covenant is the covenant of grace between God and those who trust in Him.
Though we cannot approve of Asa’s action for both of the reasons we have mentioned, they did result in the removal of the forces of Israel in Ramah. In this way the physical threat to Judah was temporarily eliminated.
A final matter is worthy of note. Baasha’s original intention seemed to be to make Ramah his capital, since we are told that he returned to Tirzah and made that town his residence.
20 Ben-Hadad écouta le roi Asa; il envoya les chefs de son armée contre les villes d'Israël, et il battit Ijjon, Dan, Abel-Beth-Maaca, tout Kinneroth, et tout le pays de Nephthali.