2 Chronicles 16

Asa’s Last Years

1 In 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.

2 Asa 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.”

4 Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim^[a] and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5 When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work.

6 Then 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.

7 At 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.

8 Were not the Cushites^[b] and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen^[c]? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.

9 For 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.”

10 Asa 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.

11 The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12 In 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.

13 Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors.

14 They 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.

2 Chronicles 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

Asa seeks the aid of the Syrians, His death.

- 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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 9:9; Jeremiah 41:9
• 2. 2Ch 19:1-20:37; 2 Chronicles 22:1-9
• 3. 2 Chronicles 20:35; 2 Chronicles 25:7
• 4. S 2 Kings 15:29
• 5. Jeremiah 41:9
• 6. 1 Kings 16:1
• 7. S 2 Chronicles 13:18
• 8. S Ge 10:6,8-9; S 2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Chronicles 14:9
• 9. 2 Chronicles 24:24
• 10. 2 Chronicles 13:16
• 11. Job 24:23; Psalms 33:13-15; Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17; Zechariah 3:9; Zechariah 4:10
• 12. 1 Samuel 13:13
• 13. S 1 Kings 15:6; 2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Chronicles 25:7; 2 Chronicles 28:16-21
• 14. S 1 Kings 22:27
• 15. 2 Chronicles 21:18; 2 Chronicles 26:19; Psalms 103:3
• 16. 2 Chronicles 7:14
• 17. Jeremiah 17:5-6
• 18. S Genesis 50:5
• 19. S Genesis 50:2; John 19:39-40
• 20. 2 Chronicles 21:19; Jeremiah 34:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Also known as "Abel Beth Maakah"
• [b]. That is, people from the upper Nile region
• [c]. Or "charioteers"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 16

Baasha coming up against Judah, and building Ramah, Asa made a league with the king of Syria, and hired him to make a diversion in his favour, and cause Baasha to leave off building, which succeeded, 2Ch 16:1-6, for which he was reproved by a prophet of the Lord, with whom he was so angry for it as to put him in prison, and oppress others, 2Ch 16:7,10, and the chapter is closed with an account of his disease and conduct under it, and of his death and burial, 2Ch 16:11-14.