2 Chronicles Chapter 16
1 In 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.
2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the LORD'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."
4 Ben 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.
5 When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Rama, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.
7 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 out of your hand.
8 Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.
9 For the LORD's eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars."
10 Then 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.
11 Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12 In 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 the LORD, but just the physicians.
13 Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14 They 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 odours and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers' art; and they made a very great fire for him.
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2 Chronicles Chapter 16 Guide
This is a very sad chapter, telling as it does the story of the lapse of a man who, considering the conditions under which he lived, had for six and thirty years been so remarkably true to God. When Baasha, king of Israel, commenced to build Ramah with the express purpose of troubling Judah, Asa, who had so often been led by God, turned to Benhadad for help. It seemed to be a successful policy, for Benhadad spoiled the cities of Israel, and Baasha left his work. Things which appear successful may be in the life of faith most disastrous. As a matter of fact, the Syrians were worse foes of Judah than even Israel; and as Hanani, the seer, told the king, by this act they had escaped out of his hand.
How perpetually men defeat their own ends when either through lack of faith or overconfidence, which are practically the same thing, they attempt to do by policy what God is prepared to do for them in answer to their obedient belief. The story is the sadder in that the king seems to have had no repentance for his wrong. He persecuted the prophet, flinging him into prison. Moreover, in his latter days he became despotic, and even though physical suffering came to him, "he sought not to the Lord," so engrossed was he with the suffering and his attempts to gain relief through the physicians.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Chronicles Chapter 16 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Asa seeks the aid of the Syrians, His death.
Verses 1-14
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.