Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Chronicles 16
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 16
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 16
"In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah." — 2 Chronicles 16:1 (ASV)
This passage runs parallel with the book of Kings (see the marginal reference).
"[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." — 2 Chronicles 16:3 (ASV)
Compare the 1 Kings 15:19 note.
"And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali." — 2 Chronicles 16:4 (ASV)
Abel-maim, or Abel-beth-maachah (1 Kings 15:20), was one of the towns most exposed to attack when an invader entered Israel from the north and was taken from Pekah by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29).
Store cities: See the note on 1 Kings 9:19.
"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 hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand. For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time." — 2 Chronicles 16:7-10 (ASV)
The rebuke of Hanani and his imprisonment by Asa, omitted by the writer of Kings, are among the most important of the additions to Asa’s history for which we are indebted to the author of Chronicles.
Escaped out of thine hand (2 Chronicles 16:7) — Hanani means, “Had you been faithful and opposed the combined army of Israel and Syria in battle, instead of bribing the Syrian king to desert to your side, the entire army would have been delivered into your hand, as Zerah’s was. But now it has escaped from you. You have lost a glorious opportunity.”
From henceforth thou shalt have wars (2 Chronicles 16:9) — As peace had been the reward of Asa’s earlier faith (2 Chronicles 14:5; 2 Chronicles 15:5), so his lack of faith was now to be punished by a period of war and disturbance.
In a prison house (2 Chronicles 16:10) — Or, “in the stocks.” (Compare to 1 Kings 22:26–27).
"And in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians." — 2 Chronicles 16:12 (ASV)
Yet in his disease he sought not... — Rather, “and also in his disease he sought not.” Not only in his war with Baasha, but also when attacked by illness, Asa placed undue reliance upon the aid of man.
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