2 Chronicles16
New King James Version
1In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2Then Asa brought silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-Hadad king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying,
3“Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold; come, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”
4So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
5Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah and ceased his work.
6Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.
7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand.
8Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand.
9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
10Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.
11Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.
13So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.
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.