2 Chronicles16
New International Version
1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
2Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus.
3“Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
4Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work.
6Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
7At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.
8Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand.
9For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
10Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.
11The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.
13Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors.
14They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Asa seeks the aid of the Syrians, His death. (1-14).
vv1-16
A plain and faithful reproof was given to Asa by a prophet of the Lord, for making a league with Syria. God is displeased when he is distrusted, and when an arm of flesh is relied on, more than his power and goodness. It is foolish to lean on a broken reed, when we have the Rock of ages to rely upon. To convince Asa of his folly, the prophet shows that he, of all men, had no reason to distrust God, who had found him such a powerful Helper. The many experiences we have had of the goodness of God to us, aggravate our distrust of him. But see how deceitful our hearts are! we trust in God when we have nothing else to trust to, when need drives us to him; but when we have other things to stay on, we are apt to depend too much on them. Observe Asa's displeasure at this reproof. What is man, when God leaves him to himself! He that abused his power for persecuting God's prophet, was left to himself, to abuse it further for crushing his own subjects. Two years before he died, Asa was diseased in his feet. Making use of physicians was his duty; but trusting to them, and expecting that from them which was to be had from God only, were his sin and folly. In all conflicts and sufferings we need especially to look to our own hearts, that they may be perfect towards God, by faith, patience, and obedience.
Key Words
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
אָסָא: Asa, the name of a king and of a Levite
בַּעְשָׁא: Basha, a king of Israel
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עָלָה: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
בָּנָה: to build (literally and figuratively)
רָמָה: Ramah, the name of four places in Palestine
Cross References
2 Chronicles 16The parallel account of Asa's war with Baasha, building of Ramah, and league with Ben-hadad.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Asa's prior victory over the Ethiopians through faith, contrasted here with his present reliance on Syria.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The parallel Kings text noting Asa's diseased feet in his old age.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the pit Baasha dug at Ramah, made by Asa because of Baasha.
Supported by JFB
The defection of Israelites to Judah which alarmed Baasha and prompted the building of Ramah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Hanani the seer as the father of Jehu the prophet, who also rebuked kings.
Identical prophetic imagery of the eyes of the Lord running to and fro through the earth.
Pronounces a curse on the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts Asa's heart being previously perfect with his foolish heart-attitude here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels another Judean king (Amaziah) angrily rejecting and silencing a prophet's divine rebuke.
Job labels his friends 'physicians of no value,' echoing Asa's faithless reliance on physicians.
Theological parallel of the eyes of the Lord being in every place, beholding evil and good.
Parallels Uzziah's rage when rebuked by God's priests, resulting in his immediate judgment.
Kings record of Asa's death, burial in the city of David, and Jehoshaphat's succession.
Confirms the Israelite custom of making a 'great burning' for deceased kings as an honor.