and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the treasuries of the royal palace and gave it to his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion king of Aram who lived in Damascus, saying,
This is how to cancel debt: Every creditor is to cancel what he has lent his neighbour. He is not to collect anything from his neighbour or brother, because the Lord’s release of debts has been proclaimed.
Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a ram’s horn in one hand and an empty jug with a torch inside it in the other hand.
Damascus was also your trading partner because of your numerous products and your abundant wealth of every kind, trading in wine from Helbon and white wool.