In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha ... came up. Baasha had died several years before this date (1 Kings 15:33), and the best Biblical critics are agreed in considering this date to be calculated from the separation of the kingdoms, and coincident wish the 16th year of Asa's reign. This mode of reckoning was, in all likelihood, generally followed in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, the public annals of the time (2 Chronicles 16:11) - the source from which the inspired historian drew his account.
Built Ramah - i:e., fortified it. The blessing of God, which manifestly rested at this time on the kingdom of Judah, the signal victory of Asa, the freedom and purity of religious worship, and the fame of the late national covenant, were regarded with great interest throughout Israel, and attracted a constantly-increasing number of emigrants to Judah. Baasha, alarmed at this movement, determined to stem the tide; and as the high road to and from Jerusalem passed by Ramah, he made that frontier town-about six miles north of Asa's capital-a military station, where the vigilance of his sentinels would effectually prevent all passage across the boundary of the kingdom (see the note at 1 Kings 15:16-22; also Jeremiah 41:9).