2 Chronicles 16

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 16

1¶ In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

2Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

3[There is] a league between me and thee, as [there was] between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

4And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

5And it came to pass, when Baasha heard [it], that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

6Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

7¶ And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

8Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time.

11And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease [was] exceeding [great]: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

14And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds [of spices] prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Asa of Judah, facing an invasion from Baasha of Israel, sought aid from Benhadad of Syria by offering treasures, which successfully deterred Baasha. However, the prophet Hanani rebuked Asa for relying on a foreign king instead of the LORD, prophesying future wars. Asa responded by imprisoning Hanani and later, afflicted with a severe foot disease, he sought help only from physicians, not the LORD, before his death.

Medium Summary

In the thirty-sixth year of his reign, King Asa of Judah faced an incursion from Baasha of Israel, who began fortifying Ramah to restrict movement into Judah. Asa responded by taking silver and gold from the temple and his own treasury to form a league with Benhadad, king of Syria, urging him to break his alliance with Baasha. Benhadad's subsequent attacks on Israelite cities compelled Baasha to abandon the construction of Ramah, allowing Asa to repurpose the materials for his own fortifications. Nevertheless, Hanani the seer confronted Asa, condemning his reliance on Syria rather than the LORD, reminding him of past divine deliverance and warning of future conflicts due to his lack of faith. Asa reacted with anger, imprisoning Hanani and oppressing some of the people. Later, in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a severe foot disease, yet he sought help exclusively from physicians, failing to seek the LORD. He died in his forty-first year and was buried with elaborate honors.

Long Summary

The chapter opens in the thirty-sixth year of King Asa's reign over Judah, detailing an aggressive move by Baasha, king of Israel, who began building Ramah with the intent to blockade Judah. In response, Asa strategically emptied the treasures of both the house of the LORD and his own royal house, dispatching silver and gold to Benhadad, king of Syria. Asa appealed to Benhadad based on a pre-existing league between their fathers, requesting that Benhadad break his current alliance with Baasha and attack Israel. Benhadad complied, sending his armies against various Israelite cities, including Ijon, Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. This military pressure forced Baasha to abandon his construction project at Ramah. King Asa then mobilized all Judah to dismantle Ramah, repurposing its stones and timber to fortify Geba and Mizpah. However, this strategic success was overshadowed by a divine rebuke delivered by Hanani the seer. Hanani chastised Asa for relying on the king of Syria rather than the LORD his God, emphasizing that this lack of faith allowed the Syrian host to escape divine judgment. He reminded Asa of the LORD's past deliverance against the vast Ethiopian and Lubim armies when Asa had relied on God. Hanani declared that the LORD's eyes search the earth for those with perfect hearts, and Asa's actions were foolish, prophesying that he would henceforth face wars. Asa reacted with intense anger, imprisoning Hanani and oppressing some of the people. The account notes that Asa's deeds were recorded in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. A significant decline in Asa's later reign is highlighted: in his thirty-ninth year, he was afflicted with a severe disease in his feet. Crucially, even in his great affliction, Asa did not seek the LORD but relied solely on physicians. Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign and was buried in his own sepulchre in the city of David, laid in a bed filled with sweet odours and spices, with a very great burning made for him.

Core Concepts

  • Reliance on Foreign AlliancesKing Asa's decision to seek aid from Benhadad of Syria, rather than solely trusting in the LORD, to counter Baasha's aggression. This act, though strategically effective, is presented as a failure of faith.
  • Divine RebukeThe prophet Hanani's direct confrontation with King Asa, condemning his lack of reliance on God and reminding him of past divine interventions. This highlights God's expectation of complete trust from His people.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceHanani's prophecy that Asa would face future wars due to his foolish decision to rely on Syria instead of the LORD. This illustrates the principle that actions of faith or unfaithfulness have direct consequences.
  • Asa's Pride and OppressionKing Asa's angry reaction to Hanani's prophecy, leading to the seer's imprisonment and the oppression of some people. This reveals a shift in Asa's character from earlier piety to a more tyrannical disposition.
  • Seeking God vs. Human MeansAsa's severe foot disease in his later years, during which he sought help only from physicians and not from the LORD. This emphasizes a continued pattern of relying on human solutions over divine intervention, even in personal suffering.
  • God's Omniscience and StrengthHanani's declaration that "the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him." This verse underscores God's active involvement and search for faithful hearts.