Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Chronicles 16:9

"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." — 2 Chronicles 16:9 (ASV)

For the eyes of the Lord. —Literally, For Jehovah, his eyes run, etc. They run to and fro (Job 2:2). In Zechariah 4:10 we find this very phrase: “The eyes of Jehovah, they run to and fro in all the earth.” (Compare also to Jeremiah 5:1). The Lord is ceaselessly watchful for occasions of helping the faithful. “He that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth.”

In behalf of. — With, i.e., on the side of. The phrase “to show oneself strong with,” i.e., strongly to support, occurred in 1 Chronicles 11:10. (For the Hebrew construction, which omits the relative, see 1 Chronicles 15:12). Out of the twenty-seven occurrences of the form hith c hazzaq, “to show oneself strong,” fifteen are found in Chronicles.

Whose heart is perfect. —See Notes on 1 Chronicles 12:38; 1 Chronicles 27:9; 1 Chronicles 29:19; 1 Kings 15:14; 2 Chronicles 15:17.

Herein thou hast done foolishly. —Literally, Thou hast shown thyself foolish (2 Samuel 24:10; 1 Chronicles 21:8) in regard to this, that is, the conduct of seeking the help of Syria against Israel.

Therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. —Instead of peace (2 Chronicles 14:6; 2 Chronicles 15:15). Literally, For (the proof of your folly) from henceforth, etc.

The sense appears to be that the peace secured by Asa’s worldly policy would not be permanent, a prediction verified over and over again in the later history of the kingdom of Judah (see 2 Chronicles 28:20–21). The record is silent about any future wars in which Asa himself was involved, simply because the writer, having already fulfilled his didactic purpose concerning this reign, then draws its history to a close.