2 Chronicles16
World English Bible · Public Domain
1In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of Yahweh’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,
3“Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”
4Ben Hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
5When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
6Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber of Ramah, with which Baasha had built; and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.
7At 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 Yahweh your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.
8Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand.
9For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.”
10Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
11Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great; yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but just the physicians.
13Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David’s city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire 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.