The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 16
Chapter XVI · Vol. II, pp. 861–863
1 Asa, by the aid of the Syrians, diverteth Baasha from building of Ramah. 7 Being reproved thereof by Hanani, he putteth him in prison. 11 Among his other acts in his disease he seeketh not to God, but to the physicians. 13 His death and burial.
1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign1 of Asa, aBaasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built bRamah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.2
B.C. 939.
1 viz. from the rending of the ten tribes from Judah, over which Asa was now king.
a 1 Ki.15.17-22; 12.27. ch.11.16.
b 1 Sa.7.17.
2 Baasha died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, and so could not be at war with him in the thirty-sixth, 1 Ki 15.3; 10.1,6,8. The word, however, rendered 'reign,' may as properly be translated 'kingdom,' and the calculation may be from the formation of Judah and Benjamin into a separate kingdom under Rehoboam. This rendering will also apply to ch. 15. 19. C.—See note on 1 Ki.xv.—P.
2 Then cAsa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus,3 saying,
c 2 Ki.12.18; 16.8; 18.15.
3 Heb. Darmesek.
3 There is da 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.
4 And Ben-hadad ehearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his4 armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote fIjon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities 5of Naphtali.6
e 1 Ti.6.10.
4 Heb. which were his.
f 1 Ki.15.20; 9.19. 2 Ki.15.29.
5 All the places and districts here mentioned were in the north of Israel, on the borders of Syria, and consequently more exposed to the attacks of Benhadad's forces. Finding it necessary to protect his kingdom on the Syrian frontier, Baasha not only relinquished his attempt to fortify Ramah, but left it in the hands of the Judahites.—I.
6 B.C. 935.
5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6 Then gAsa 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 hGeba and Mizpah.
7 And at that time iHanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, kBecause 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 escaped7 out of thine hand.
i 1 Ki.16.1. ch.19.2; 20.34.
7 Called in as auxiliaries, it would seem the Syrians had become marauders--not an uncommon result with such mercenary armies; and that Asa had been compelled to turn his arms against them (comp. ch. 16. 2), and that they had 'escaped' for the present to return in greater force against his kingdom.—C.
8 Were not lthe Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge8 host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
l ch.14.9-12.
8 Heb. in abundance.
9 For the meyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, nto show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou ohast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
10 Then Asa was pwroth with the seer,9 and put him in qa prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed1 some of the people rthe same time.
p ch.26.19. Ps.141.5.
9 Even the heathen have said, that 'anger is a short madness.' Our Lord has, however, shown that it is still worse, and that, when causeless, it is murder, Mat. 5. 22. Here its heinous character still farther appears in its direct rebellion against the message of God.—C.
1 Heb. crushed.
r Ge.9.21,22; 19.33. 2 Sa.11.4.
11 And, sbehold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
s 1 Ki.15.23. ch.24.27; 25.26; 27.7; 28.26; 32.32; 33.18; 35.27; 36.8.
12 And Asa, in the thirty and ninth year2 of his reign, was tdiseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great:3 yet in his disease he usought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.4
2 B.C. 916.
t Job 14.1. De.28.22. ch.21.18,19; 24.25.
3 Some disease commencing in the feet and ascending (as the original intimates) upward to the body.—Disease is the offspring of sin, and every disease is either a corrective of sin, or a cultivator of grace, 1 Co.11.30,32. 2 Co.4.17. Disease should therefore lead to careful self-examination; and, if we have never yet drawn near to God, or fallen from our first love, it should warn us to seek him while he may be found.—C.
u 1 Ch.10.14. Je.17.5. Is.22.2.
4 Most probably foreigners, who were astrologers, and dealers in amulets and charms, a species of idolatry that led the king's heart away from God.—C.
14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made6 for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with xsweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great yburning for him.7
6 Heb. digged.
y Je.34.5. ch.21.19; 32.33.
7 The context shows that 'the great burning' was of incense and perfumes. It was customary both in Egypt and Palestine to burn incense at the funerals of kings and great men. The quantity consumed at the burial of Asa seems to have been unusually large.—P.
Notes
Reflections.—The strongest faith may soon be shaken: and unbelief will make the best to fall into a variety of evils. What reliance can there be on an arm of flesh! What enticement is there, or even hiring of men, to perjury, and to murdering of God's people, by the plunder of his temple! But opposition to God's people, or murdering of them, though it should be by the hand of heathens, brings along with it the most fearful ruin. And often, particularly in carnal expedients to extricate themselves, even good men act against their experience, their knowledge, and their interest, all at once: often in pride they hate, and in passion they persecute, their faithful reprovers; and, even in distress, overlook God, and depend on means carnal or devilish. O what need we have to consider our ways, to keep our heart with all diligence, and to pray for peculiar grace to keep us to the end! All our departures from God spring from our evil heart of unbelief: and the very means which we use unlawfully to avert trouble will bring it more heavily upon us. Sinful wisdom will at last appear egregious folly. Passion, and impatience of reproof, will issue in bitter groans. Rewarding of God's messengers with imprisonment will issue in our own confinement on earth or in hell: and if our desperate wickedness of heart be indulged, it will mark us with lasting shame. But notwithstanding all their sad blemishes, the godly die in Christ, and must be had in honour by their survivors.