In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of Yahweh’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, “Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.”
Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease. Then Asa the king took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Rama, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv1–3 Who reigned after Nadab the son of Jeroboam.
Who reigned after Nadab the son of Jeroboam.
He fortified it with walls and ditches: it was a city in Benjamin near to Gibeon.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv1–3 2Ch 16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of…
2Ch 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.
Ver. 1. In the six and thirtieth year.] See 2Ch 15:19.
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Of the reign of Asa.] Or, In the reign of Asa.
Baasha king of Israel.] Of whom, see 1Ki 15:27.
Came up against Judah.] See on 1Ki 15:17, &c.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv1–2 Of the reign of Asa; or, of the kingdom…
Of the reign of Asa; or, of the kingdom of Asa, i.e. of the kingdom of Judah, which was now Asa’s kingdom; or from the time of the division of the two kingdoms. Rehoboam reigned seventeen years, 2Ch 12:13; Abijah three years, 2Ch 13:2; Asa had now reigned fifteen years, 2Ch 15:10; all which, put together, make up the thirty-five years mentioned 2Ch 15:19. And in the next year Baasha wars against him; and the ground of war was the defection of many of his subjects to Asa, 2Ch 15:9, whom Asa endeavours to engage, together with his own subjects, by an oath and a covenant, to be true and faithful to God, and consequently to himself; which was done in his fifteenth year, 2Ch 15:9,10; and therefore in his sixteenth year, called here the thirty-sixth year of his kingdom, he commenceth an open war against him. If it be objected, That the reign or kingdom of Asa is otherwise understood of the time of Asa’s personal reign, (as I may call it,) 2Ch 15:10; the answer is obvious, That there are many instances in Scripture (some of which have been formerly given, and others will be given in their proper places) where the same word or phrase is taken differently, and that in the very same chapter and history. And particularly this variety is elsewhere used, both by sacred and profane writers, in the computation of the years of princes, which are sometimes reckoned from the beginning of their reign, and sometimes from other remarkable times and occurrences. Titus Nebuchadnezzar’s years are sometimes computed from the beginning of his reign, as 2Ki 25:8; Jer 52:12,29,30, and sometimes from his complete conquest of Syria and Egypt, &c., as that passage, Dan 2:1, In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar, is by the general stream of interpreters understood. Thus Ahaziah’s years, which doubtless were usually computed from the time of his birth, are computed from another head, 2Ch 22:2, See Poole "2Ch 22:2". And the like differences are observed in computing the years of some of the Syrian monarchs and Roman emperors; and particularly of Augustus, the years of whose reign are variously accounted by the Roman historians; sometimes from his first consulship, sometimes from the time of the triumvirate, and sometimes from that famous victory at Actium, where he utterly overthrew his competitor, and made himself sole and unquestionable emperor. And therefore it is not strange if it be so here. And that it must necessarily be thus understood, appears from hence, that it cannot be the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa in his own person, because Baasha began to reign in Asa’s third year, 1Ki 15:28, and reigned only twenty-four years, and consequently died in Asa’s twenty-sixth or twenty-seventh year, as it is said he did, 1Ki 15:8. That he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah; that he might keep his subjects from revolting to Asa, as he perceived they began to do, 2Ch 15:9, and keep Asa’s subjects from coming into his dominions to seduce his people from their obedience to him.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v1 How to reconcile the date of this event with…
How to reconcile the date of this event with the history of the kings I am quite at a loss. Baasha died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, Kg1 16:8. How then could this be done in his thirty-sixth year, when Baasha's family was quite cut off, and Omri was upon the throne? It is generally said to be meant of the thirty-sixth year of the kingdom of Asa, namely, that of Judah, beginning from the first of Rehoboam, and so it coincides with the sixteenth of Asa's reign; but then Ch2 15:19 must be so understood; and how could it be spoken of as a great thing that there was no more war till the fifteenth year of Asa, when that passage immediately before was in his fifteenth year? (Ch2 15:10), and after this miscarriage of his, here recorded, he had wars, Ch2 16:9. Josephus places it in his twenty-sixth year, and then we must suppose a mistake in the transcriber here and Ch2 15:19, the admission of which renders the computation easy. This passage we had before (Kg1 15:17, etc.) and Asa was in several ways faulty in it. 1. He did not do well to make a league with Benhadad, a heathen king, and to value himself so much upon it as he seems to have done, Ch2 16:3. Had he relied more upon his covenant, and his father's, with God, he would not have boasted so much of his league, and his father's, with the royal family of Syria. 2. If he had had a due regard to the honour of Israel in general, he would have found some other expedient to give Baasha a diversion than by calling in a foreign force, and inviting into the country a common enemy, who, in process of time, might be a plague to Judah too. 3. It was doubtless a sin in Benhadad to break his league with Baasha upon no provocation, but merely through the influence of a bribe; and, if so, certainly it was a sin in Asa to move him to it, especially to hire him to do it. The public faith of kings and kingdoms must not be made so cheap a thing. 4. To take silver and gold out of the house of the Lord for this purpose was a great aggravation of the sin, Ch2 16:2. Must the temple be plundered to serve his carnal politics? He had better have brought gifts and offerings with prayers and supplications, to the house of the Lord, that he might have engaged God on his side and made him his friend; then he would not have needed to be at this expense to make Benhadad his friend. 5. It was well if Asa had not to answer for all the mischief that the army of Benhadad did unjustly to the cities of Israel, all the blood they shed and all the spoil they made, Ch2 16:4. Perhaps Asa intended not that they should carry the matter so far. But those that draw others to sin know not what they do, nor where it will end. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water. However the project succeeded. Benhadad gave Baasha a powerful diversion, obliged him to leave off building Ramah and betake himself to the defence of his own country northward, which gave Asa an opportunity, not only to demolish his fortifications, but to seize the materials and convert them to his own use.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On v1 In the thirty and sixth year of the reign…
In the thirty and sixth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah,.... How this is to be reconciled with the reign of Baasha, which was but twenty four years, and was begun in the third of Asa, and therefore must have been dead nearly ten years before this year of Asa's reign; see Gill on Kg1 15:17 where, and in the following verses, are the same things related as here, to the end of the sixth verse; the explanation of which the reader is referred to.
where, and in the following verses, are the same things related as here, to the end of the sixth verse; the explanation of which the reader is referred to.
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2 Chronicles 16:7
ch2 16:7
ch2 16:7
ch2 16:7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah,.... Being sent by the Lord to reprove him:
and said unto him, because thou hast relied on the king of Syria; on the covenant he made with him, on the promises the Syrian king made to him upon receiving his money, and so trusted to an arm of flesh, and even an Heathen king:
and not relied on the Lord thy God; his promises, power, and providence, which he had reason to believe would have been engaged on his behalf, had he placed his confidence in him as he ought to have done: the Targum is,"and not relied on the Word of the Lord thy God:"
therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand; which otherwise would have fallen into it, had he left him to continue in league with the king of Israel, and not solicited him to break it; for then he would have come with him against Asa, and the Lord would have delivered him to him.
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John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v1 Asa hires the Syrians to invade Israel, ver. 1-6.…
Asa hires the Syrians to invade Israel, ver. 1-6. Puts the prophet who reproved him for it in prison, ver. 7-10. His sickness, death and burial, ver, 11-14.
Of the reign - Or, of the kingdom of Asa, that is, of the kingdom of Judah, which was now Asa's kingdom; or from the time of the division of the two kingdoms. Rehoboam reigned seventeen years, Abijah three years, Asa had now reigned fifteen years, all which put together, make up the thirty five years mentioned chap. xv, 19, and in the next year Baasha wars against him; and the ground of the war was the defection of many of his subjects to Asa, chap. xv, 9.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 6 Baasha, king of Israel, begins to build Ramah, to…
CHAPTER XVI
Baasha, king of Israel, begins to build Ramah, to prevent his
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subjects from having any intercourse with the Jews, 1.
Asa hires Ben-hadad, king of Syria, against him; and obliges
him to leave off building Ramah, 2-5.
Asa and his men carry the stones and timbers of Ramah away,
and build therewith Geba and Mizpah, 6.
Asa is reproved by Hanani, the seer, for his union with the
king of Syria: he is offended with the seer, and puts him in
prison, 7-10.
Of his acts, 11.
He is diseased in his feet, and seeks to physicians and not to
God, and dies, 12, 13.
His sumptuous funeral, 14.
NOTES ON CHAP. XVI
Verse 1. The six and thirtieth year] After the division of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah; according to Usher. This opinion is followed in our margin; 1Kg 15:16, where this subject is farther considered.
Concerning Baasha's building of Ramah, 1Kg 15:17.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v1 2Ch 16:1. In the six and thirtieth year of…
2Ch 16:1. In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa — This date disagrees so much with what is said 1Ki 15:33, that there seems to be no other way of reconciling the two passages, but allowing that a trivial mistake has been made by the transcribers here, and that instead of the thirty-sixth, we ought to read here the twenty-sixth. This reading is approved by Houbigant, and is evidently adopted by Josephus, lib. 8, cap. 6. Baasha began his reign in the third year of Asa, and reigned no more than twenty-four years. He was, therefore, dead nine years, at least, before the thirty-sixth year of Asa. Baasha came up against Judah, and built Ramah — That is, made a wall about it, and fortified it. The late defection of so many of his subjects to the house of David was the occasion of his fortifying this place, designing hereby both to prevent others of them from revolting, and to hinder Asa’s subjects from coming into his dominions to seduce his people from their obedience to him.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 4 This passage runs parallel with Kings (see the marginal…
This passage runs parallel with Kings (see the marginal reference).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv1, 3, 4 Six and thirtieth year of his kingdom. That is,…
Six and thirtieth year of his kingdom. That is, of the kingdom of Juda, taking the date of it from the beginning of the reign of Roboam. Ch. --- It was the 16th of Asa. We read that Raasa died in the 26th year of Asa, 3 K. xvi. 8. How then could he fight with him in the 36th? T. --- Rama was on an eminence, and commanded the pass below. Baasa wished to cut off all communication with the kingdom of Juda, as he knew many of his subjects had emigrated for the sake of the true religion, C. xv. 9. C. --- He had taken the city from the tribe of Benjamin. T.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v4 Ben-hadad . . . sent the captains of his…
Ben-hadad . . . sent the captains of his armies . . . and they smote . . . Abelmaim--"The meadow of waters," supposed to have been situated on the marshy plain near the uppermost lake of the Jordan. The other two towns were also in the northern district of Palestine. These unexpected hostilities of his Syrian ally interrupted Baasha's fortifications at Ramah, and his death, happening soon after, prevented his resuming them.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Ch. 2Ch_16:1-6 (= 1Ki_15:17-22). Asa asks help of Ben-hadad
Ch. 2Ch_16:1-6 (= 1Ki_15:17-22). Asa asks help of Ben-hadad
1. the six and thirtieth year] According to 1Ki_16:8 Baasha was succeeded by his son Elah in the six-and-twentieth year of Asa. The number thirty-six is probably therefore wrong. It should be noticed however that the thirty-sixth year of the separate kingdom of Judah corresponds with the sixteenth year of Asa, so that possibly two different reckonings are here confused, and so we should read, In the six-and-thirtieth year, that is, in the sixteenth year of Asa. So in 2Ch_15:19 we should read, in the five-and-thirtieth, that is, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
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Ramah] The modern er-Râm, situated on a commanding hill about two hours north of Jerusalem. Bädeker, p. 212.
that he might let none go out] R.V. that he might not suffer any to go out (as in 1 Kin.).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv1–6 THE WAR WITH BAASHA—(2Ch_16:1-6).
XVI.
THE WAR WITH BAASHA—(2Ch_16:1-6).
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Comp. 1Ki_15:17-22.
(1) In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up.—According to 1Ki_15:33; 1Ki_16:8, Baasha began to reign in the third year of Asa, reigned twenty-four years, and died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa. These statements are obviously irreconcilable with that of our verse. We must suppose either that the chronicler has accepted a different calculation from that of the Kings—a calculation which he may have found in one of his documents; or that the text here is unsound, and thirty-six has been substituted by an error of transcription for sixteen, or twenty-six; and that in 2Ch_15:19 by a similar mistake thirty-five has taken the place of fifteen or twenty-five. Upon the whole, the latter alternative appears preferable; and if we assume twenty-five and twenty-six to be the correct numerals, we get the following chronology for the reign :—First, ten years of peace (2Ch_14:1), during which Asa strengthened his defences (2Ch_14:6-8); then the invasion of Zerah, at what precise date is not clear, but at some time between the eleventh and the fifteenth year (2Ch_14:9; 2Ch_15:10); then the reformation of religion and renewal of the covenant in Asa’s fifteenth year (2Ch_15:10); and lastly, another ten years of peace, until the outbreak of the war with Baasha, in the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth year.
The idea of the ancient commentators, that the phrase “five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa” might mean “five and thirtieth year of the kingdom of Judah,” is absurd. The phrase “bishnath . . . lemalkûth” always denotes the year of a king’s reign, not of the duration of his kingdom. (See 2Ch_16:12 infra.)
And built Ramah.—Er-Râm, about five miles north of Jerusalem. Baasha had probably retaken the cities annexed by Abijah. (See on 2Ch_15:8.)
Built = fortified it. (See 1Ki_15:17 for the rest of the verse.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv1–6 The contents of this chapter fall easily into three…
The contents of this chapter fall easily into three parts: Asa"s conflict with Baasha (vers. 1-6; parallel,; (1Ki_15:16-22) Hanani"s rebuke of Asa, and Asa"s ill reception of it (vers. 7-10); the disease, death, and burial of Asa (vers. 11-14; parallel,. (1Ki_15:23, 1Ki_15:24)
For the six and thirtieth year, read six and twentieth. Ramah belonged to Benjamin, (Jos_18:21, Jos_18:25, Jos_18:28) and lay between Bethel and Jerusalem, about five or six Roman miles from each; but Keil and Bertheau, by some error, call it thirty miles from Jerusalem, having very likely in their eye Ramah of Samuel, in Ephraim. The word signifies "lofty," and the present history speaks the importance of its position, and would infer also that Israel had regained Bethel, which, with other adjacent places, Abijah had wrested from Jeroboam. (2Ch_13:19) The reference of Isa_10:28, Isa_10:29, 32 is exceedingly interesting, and bespeaks the fact that Ramah commanded another intersecting route from Ephraim. When it is said here that Baasha built (bYiw) Ramah, the meaning is that he was beginning to strengthen it greatly, and fortify it. The object of Baasha, which no doubt needed no stating in the facts of the day, is now stated by history.
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Vers. 1-14.
The disappointing relapse of what had seemed tried worth, knowledge, and proved goodness.
Mournful to the last degree is the impression made on us by what we are given to learn last of the career of King Asa. It is a reversal not the reversal from bad to good, but of what seemed good and seemed sure, to bad. The humiliating lesson and fresh illustration of human caprice and weakness must be in like spirit and with proportionate humility noted and learned by ourselves. It is, indeed, a chapter of biography which brings again to our lips the reproving and stirring question of the apostle, "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" and which reminds us also of language of far lower inspiration (Keble"s Christian Year:" Eighth Sunday after Trinity)
The grey-haired saint may fail at last, The surest guide a wanderer prove; Death only binds us fast To the bright shore of love.
Among all uncertainties, mournful is the certainty of human uncertainty, and necessary the prolongation of human probation to the extreme limit of life. Let us listen with fresh veneration to the just expression of the virtual beatitude of final perseverance, as pronounced by the lips of Jesus Christ himself, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." Side by side with the broad lesson of human fickleness and liability in the very end to fall, there seem to be peculiarities attending the present history which may yield something to careful notice and analysis, which are replete indeed with instruction, and with the finer of the suggestions of caution and warning. Thus, for instance
I THAT ASA WAS WICKED AND TEMPTED TO DEFECTION WAS PROBABLY LARGELY DUE TO THE CLOSENESS OF THE PRESSURE OF APPREHENSION IN A DOUBLE SENSE. Family quarrels are, to a proverb, the bitterest. The foe, the competing king, the dissentient people, were abiding neighbours nay, of one and the same house, though that a house divided against itself. All this, no doubt, should have had exactly the contrary effect, but did not. As in great stress of illness, and under great pressure of mortal apprehension brought close home, men will often resort to the trial of remedies, and flee to medical aid they had been the first to disdain and the loudest to condemn under milder and less domestic circumstances, so, strange though it were, the subtle influence worked upon Asa, which was powerless to delude him when it was Zerah of Ethiopia, and not Baasha of Israel, who was the confronting enemy.
II CONVERSELY, ASA WAS PROBABLY DELUDED INTO SUPPOSING THAT THE NEARER DANGER FROM THE NEARER FOE AND NEIGHBOUR FOE, WAS A DANGER HE COULD BETTER COPE WITH BY HIS OWN UNAIDED RESOURCES, HIS OWN SUPPOSED WISDOMS AND HIS OWN SUFFICIENT DIPLOMACY. It is too true that the more distant enemy we are prone to fear more than the enemy, who is really tenfold dangerous because he u Be near us, and very probably has this great and subtle consequent advantage, that he knows us and our weak points better than we know them or know ourselves. There is oven such a thing as the Church having greater zeal for the heathen far off than for those worse heathen (and more to be pitied for themselves) who are dread corrosion and canker to the whole body politic at home. It means that men have greater fear of the enemy at a distance than of the serpent in their own bosom! Even Christian men am unconsciously the victims of such beguilement. Distance lends enchantment sometimes; distance lends large-looming apprehension sometimes. But in the matter of our enemy sin, it is ever one thing that constitutes our chiefest danger its nearness; the great risk of our overlooking it, because of familiarity with its countenance; of our trifling with it, because we underrate its power to hurt; and of our flattering ourselves that we must be a match for so near a neighbour.
III ASA IN AN EVIL MOMENT FALLS BACK UPON A MISCHIEVOUS MEMORY OF A FATHER"S ERROR INSTEAD OF A HOLY MEMORY OF A FATHER"S EXCELLENCE. He recalls his father"s league with the King of Syria to copy it, and adopt it, and furbish up afresh its dishonourable conditions. He relies on that king, and forgets to "rely on the Lord his God," who had but so lately shown him such wonderful deliverance. He relies on that King of Syria, and gets his work done apparently; but it was done also but very partially, very slightly, very temporarily, and at this immense penalty that "the host of that King of Syria would escape out of his hand;" the meaning of which sentence was only too plain, taught by too many an analogy. The help God gives he does give. The help we buy of sin, of guilty compromise, of doubtful friendship, we buy dear often to begin with; but before we have done with our bargain, we find it dear indeed, wastefully dear, exhaustingly dear, ruinously dear!
IV ASA BOUGHT HIS HELP AT GRIEVOUS AND SACRILEGIOUS EXPENDITURE. The things he should have kept for God, his people, and his temple and its worship, he takes from them.
V ASA LOST ALL COMMAND OVER HIMSELF. He is wroth with the faithful seer; he was "in a rage" with him for "this very thing," that he was faithful; he imprisons him, because he cannot imprison the truth; "and oppresses some of the people at the same time." All went wrong with him, for all was wrong in him. Disease, exceeding great, overtakes him; but he had lost moral force, for even then "he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." A long life and a very long reign close under the cloud. These h ad been good in him; and though he dies an unhonoured death, he goes to a not unhonoured burial and sepulchre; but they were what "he had made for himself," and the fragrance and perfume of which were "of the apothecaries" art"!
HOMILIES BY W. CLARKSON
Vers. 1-6.
Preferable things.
This cannot be counted among the estimable acts of Asa; we could wish that he had adopted other means for repelling the attack of Baasha means more worthy of himself as a servant of Jehovah. The abstraction of the gold and silver from the treasury of the house of the Lord may speak to us of the preferableness of
I ACQUISITION THAT WE CANNOT LOSE. The custodians of the temple no doubt rejoiced when Asa "brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels". (2Ch_15:18) But it was not many years before they endured the mortification of seeing these valuable things carried out again to enrich the foreigner possibly to be taken to one of his temples. No great acquisition was this. The temple at Jerusalem was more truly blessed by the genuine prayers and praises and sacrifices offered within,; its precincts, albeit there was nothing left of them that the eye of man could see or his hand could finger. And what are our best, our real possessions? Not the gold and silver, the vessels and the jewels of which the thief may rob us, or some revolution in the market may deprive us; they are the knowledge, the wisdom, the purer tastes and appreciations, the higher and more ennobling affections the treasures of the spirit, which "no thief can break through and steal," which are not dependent upon the chances of commerce, or the conflicts of armies, or the passage of time.
II SERVICE THAT CANNOT BE RECALLED. Of little use, indeed, to the temple at Jerusalem was the treasure which Asa first carried in and then "brought out." Of comparatively little service to our friends and neighbours is the temporary service we render them the money which we require again soon, the favour which is to be "returned," the "friendship" which the first small misunderstanding will disturb and perhaps dissolve. But there are services which, once rendered, cannot be recalled, cannot be "brought out" of the treasury, under any change of mood or circumstanceknowledge, and the power which it imparts for all the after-duty and struggle of life; counsel, which guided the feet through some labyrinth of difficulty and led them into "a large room;" comfort, which sustained the spirit in darkest and most dangerous hours, delivering from despair, restoring to equanimity and hope; influence, gently and graciously constraining the soul to enter "the kingdom which cannot be moved," within whose blessed boundaries are found present peace and immortal joy. Live to do good which cannot be undone; to impart that which no mortal hand can take back again; to confer that gift which is secure for ever.
III A FEARLESS FAITH RATHER THAN A DUBIOUS EXPEDIENCY. It is true that Asa achieved a certain triumph; his plan succeeded for the time. He bought Benhadad"s help with this consecrated treasure, and obliged Baasha to retire, leaving some spoil behind him (vers. 4-6). But might he not have succeeded in another way and by worthier means. If he had committed his cause, his country"s security, to the strength and faithfulness of his God, would he not have prevailed at least as well as he did by taking consecrated wealth out of the temple of Jehovah? Would not he who delivered the vast hordes of the Ethiopians into his hands (2Ch_14:12) have saved him from the designs of Baasha? (see vers. 7, 8). And would he not have prospered in that way, without having this act of violation on his conscience, without having this blot upon his record? A fearless faith in God is better than recourse to a doubtful expediency. The latter very often fails to accomplish the purpose in hand; and it always does some injury to the character, lowering the standard of behaviour, and leaving some blemish on the life. Take the higher road in the journey of life the way of perfect uprightness, of simple, childlike trust in God. That is the path which leads to true success; even if there should be present apparent defeat, it is sure to conduct to a glorious victory in the end. C.
HOMILIES BY T. WHITELAW Vers. 1-6.
A king"s (Asa"s) mistake.
I WHEN IT HAPPENED. "In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa" (ver. 1).
1. An obvious error. Baasha ascended the throne of Israel in Asa"s third, (1Ki_15:33) and died in his twenty-sixth. (1Ki_16:8) Yet it follows not that this blunder was in the original text. Most likely it crept in through transcription. The existence of such mistakes is not fatal to the claim of Scripture to be regarded as inspired.
2. A probable solution. Different explanations have been given.
(1) The thirty-six years of ver. 1 should be reckoned from the separation of the kingdoms (Usher, Jamieson); but against this stands the fact that the thirty-six years are stated to have belonged to the reign of Asa, while the assertion that no war occurred in Judah for thirty-five years after its commencement as a separate kingdom is incorrect. (2Ch_13:2) 2Ch_15:19, instead of "thirty-five" should be read "five,". 2Ch_16:1, instead of "thirty-six" should be inserted "six" (Vaihinger in Herzog, Thenius, Bahr) Thus the war with Zerah would be later than the attack of Baasha, though reported before it; and the connection of the verses would be, "There was no war unto the fifth year of the reign of Asa; but in the sixth year Baasha came up." This shatters itself upon the two facts that Asa"s reign began with ten years of quiet, (2Ch_14:1) and that Zerah"s invasion must have been before Baasha"s attack. (2Ch_16:8) To be sure, as numbers are being altered generally, the "ten" of 2Ch_14:1 might be changed into "five;" but Hanani, in 2Ch_16:8, could hardly speak of the Ethiopian invasion as a historical fact if it had not then taken place.
(3) The six and thirtieth year should be the five and twentieth (Adam Clarke). In favour of this may be urged that it is a fair guess.
(4) The text should be "in the sixteenth year of the reign of Asa" (Bertheau, Keil, Ewald, Kleinert in Riehm). The chronology of Asa"s reign would thus run:
(a) Ten years of quiet, (2Ch_14:1) in the third of which Baasha usurps the supreme authority in Israel; (1Ki_15:33)
(b) the invasion of Zerah (2Ch_14:9) between the tenth and fifteenth years, probably in the fourteenth;
(c) the national covenant in the fifteenth year; (2Ch_15:10)
(d) in the sixteenth the threatening advance of Baasha. (2Ch_16:1)
The statement that Judah was exempt from war until the thirty-fifth year of (2Ch_15:19) may be harmonized with that in 1Ki_15:16, 1Ki_15:32, that "there was war between Asa and Baasha King of Israel all their days," by assuming that there was latent hostility between the two kingdoms from the first, but no outbreak of war until Asa"s thirty-fifth year (Keil) the attack here recorded not having culminated in any collision between the two powers on the field of battle, the work of causing Baasha to withdraw having been entrusted to Benhadad.
II HOW IT WAS OCCASIONED. By Baasha"s advance against Judah (ver. 1).
1. The history of Baasha. The son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar not of Ahijah the prophet, who was an Ephraimite of Shiloh (1Ki_11:29) Baasha appears to have been originally a person of obscure station, though he afterwards rose to be a captain in the army of Nadab, Jeroboam"s son, as Zimri subsequently was in that of Elah, Baasha"s son. (1Ki_16:9) During the siege of Gibbethon he conspired against his master, smote him and usurped his throne. Not content with this, he put the whole house of Jeroboam to the sword an act of cruelty which rebounded on himself and his house. (1Ki_16:12) In the twelfth year of his reign he formed the plan here narrated for inflicting a blow upon Judah and Asa.
2. The character of Baasha. More than likely a soldier of distinguished bravery, (1Ki_16:5) he was little other than a monster of cruelty (1Ki_15:29) two qualities not often allied. The true hero is seldom cruel; the cruel man is seldom brave. A faithful follower of Jeroboam in the matter of religion, he was an ardent idolater and a persistent corrupter of the people. (1Ki_16:2)
3. The project of Baasha. To fortify Ramah, the modern Er-Ram, in Benjamin (Jos_18:25; Jud_1:19:3) about five miles north of Jerusalem. This town, which properly belonged to Judah not to Israel (Bahr, Bertheau) but which Abijah had taken from Jeroboam (ch. 13:19), Baasha had not previously conquered (Ewald), but at that time seized. His object probably was
(1) to cut off all traffic between the kingdoms in fact, blockade Jerusalem that the southern kingdom might be forced to capitulate (Ewald, Bahr);
(2) to prevent alliance between Judah and any power north of Israel (Bertheau); and
(3) to obtain a footing within the territory of Judah as a basis for future operations (Josephus).
III IN WHAT IT CONSISTED. In three things.
1. Not repairing to Jehovah for assistance against Baasha, as he had formerly done against Zerah. (2Ch_14:11) Perhaps he deemed Baasha a more manageable opponent than the Ethiopian leader had been an adversary that might be coped with successfully by his own craft,without calling in the battalions of Jehovah. Or, his preceding prosperity may have been his ruin, and this may have been the turning-point on that downward path of spiritual degeneracy which he pursued until he died. On any supposition it was an act of unbelief, and as such a sin; and, considering the success of his former application to Jehovah, an act of folly, and therefore a blunder as well as a sin. This he afterwards learnt from Hanani (ver. 9).
2. Seeking a league with Benhadad of Syria. (Ver. 2.) This Benhadad, or son of Ader (LXX) in the Assyrian inscriptions Bin-hidri, the son of Hadar, the supreme divinity of Damascus (Schrader, "Die Keilinschriften," p. 200) was the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, the King of Syria. (1Ki_15:18) Damascus, his capital in Hebrew Dammesek, in Assyrian Dimaski and Dimmaska, in Arabic Dimesch-eseh-Schdm, or shortly, esch-Scham had been a town in the days of Abraham, (Gen_14:15 Gen_15:2) and is still one of the few towns of antiquity that have never lost their primitive splendour and renown. It has been styled "the pearl of the Orient, the beautiful as Eden, the fragrant Paradise, the plumage of the Paradise peacock, the coloured collar of the ring-dove, the necklace of beauty, the door of Caaba, the eye of the East, the Eden of the Moslem," with other such hyperbolical expressions (Riehm"s Handworter-buch," art. "Damascus;" cf. Stanley"s Sinai and Palestine," pp. 414, etc.; Picturesque Palestine," 3:143, etc.). Its king was at this time in league with Baasha, who hoped with his assistance to subdue the southern kingdom. He was thus an enemy to Judah, as his predecessor Rezon had been to the united empire; (1Ki_11:25) and Asa might have reasoned, that not much help of a genuine kind could be obtained from him, least of all by such a stratagem as that adopted.
3. Resorting to bribery in order to gain his end. Those who use dishonourable methods to procure any advantage generally overestimate the advantage they are willing in this way to buy; and, as a consequence, discover in the long run they have been miserably duped. Even had Asa not been at fault in the value he put upon Benhadad"s alliance, the means he took to gain it were bad. The argument addressed to Baasha should never have been employed by Asa. The league of Abijah with Tabrimon should never have existed to lend countenance to the proposed league between Asa and Benhadad. But bad actions once done are easily repeated by the doers of them, and imitated by the children of those doers; while children find less difficulty in copying the evil than in following the good examples of their parents. Then Asa, while justified in attempting to dissolve the league between Benhadad and Baasha, should not have resorted to bribery. "A gift destroyeth the heart" (Ecc_7:7) of him that gives as of him that receives it. Far less for such an unhallowed purpose should he have robbed the temple, even if it had been permissible to displenish the palace. But not even "the treasures of the palace" should have been employed in dishonourable schemes (the secret-service money of modern governments falls under this condemnation); and much less "the treasures of the Lord"s house." Upon the gold and silver of both Church and state should be inscribed, "Holiness unto the Lord,
IV TO WHAT IT CONDUCTED. Seeming success. Wicked schemes often appear to prosper for a season. (Psa_37:1 Psa_92:7) Three things resulted from Asa"s statecraft.
1. Benhadad accepted the bribe. (Ver. 4.) The golden and silvern keys of mammon can unlock the doors of most hearts. Great grace is needed to resist the power of money. "Wealth maketh many friends," and "every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts". (Pro_19:4, Pro_19:6) Sometimes others besides wicked persons are guilty of "taking gifts out of their bosom". (Pro_17:23) Asa"s present was too much for Benhadad"s virtue. The King of Syria deserted his ally, the King of Israeli for the King of Judah, as he would by-and-by desert the King of Judah for the next highest bidder. Nor did he merely not assist Baasha, maintaining as it were an attitude of armed neutrality between the hostile powers, but he treacherously "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" (see Exposition). Bad as Baasha was, and infamous as was his project, the character and conduct of Benhadad were equally reprehensible and offensive. But it is no part of wicked men"s creed that they should change not when they swear to their own hurt, (Psa_14:4) or that they should keep faith with one another longer than appears for their advantage so to do. Modern kings and statesmen are sometimes charged with acting on similar lines in the making and the breaking of treaties. If the charge is true, it is not to their credit, and must ultimately turn to their people"s hurt.
2. Baasha desisted from his fortifications. He left off building Ramah, and allowed his work to cease (ver. 5). Had Baasha been engaged upon a good work, upon God"s work, the falling away of Benhadad would have mattered nothing; but being a wicked man himself, and occupied with a wicked enterprise, when the prop which supported him fell, he also was precipitated to the ground. When creature-arms fail the saints, the saints lean the heavier on the Almighty Arm; when wicked men are deprived of that in which they trust, they have nothing else to trust to.
3. Asa despoiled Bamah, and turned its stones and timber to his own use. He built therewith Geba and Mizpah (ver. 6); i.e. he fortified them. Both were in Benjamin, the former two miles and a half north of Ramah, on the road to Michmash; the latter, thirteen miles and a half from Ramah, on the north road from Jerusalem. Thus what Baasha had collected for the injury, Asa employed in the defence, of Judah. So believers may legitimately use the arguments and learning of heretics and unbelievers to establish the truth which these seek to overthrow (Bossuet). Again. whereas Baasha intended to despoil Judah, he was himself despoiled by both Benhadad (ver. 4) and Asa (ver. 6). Mischief-makers often find their mischief return upon their own heads, and violent dealers see their violence descend upon their own patens (Psa_7:15, Psa_7:16; Pro_26:27; Mat_7:2)
Lessons.
1. The lust of acquiring the true parent of war. (Jam_4:1, Jam_4:2)
2. The wickedness of bribery (Pro_17:23)
3. The certainty of retribution (Num_32:23; Gal_6:7)
4. The baseness of treachery (Pro_25:19 Pro_27:6; Oba_1:7) W.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v1 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of…
2Ch_16:1-10
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasuries of the house of the Lord.
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The folly of bribery
Trust in man, not in God--
I. Led to sacrilege in religious things. Gifts bestowed or promised with a view to prevent judgment or corrupt morals abominable. Bribery a canker in constitutional governments, a disgrace in all departments of life.
II. Brought down Divine reproof.
III. Defeated its own ends.
1. Asa missed the opportunity of a double victory. Possible by unnecessary and improper alliances to hinder our good and prevent God from granting deliverance.
2. Asa exposed himself to greater danger. Those who bribe and those bribed not to be depended upon. For gold men will sell their votes, their conscience, and themselves. Cato complained that M. Coelius the Tribune might be hired for a piece of bread to speak or to hold his peace. (J. Wolfendale.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v1 CRITICAL NOTES.] As a prevents Baasha from invading Judah…
CRITICAL NOTES.] As a prevents Baasha from invading Judah (2Ch_16:1-6); Asa reproved by Hanani (2Ch_16:7-10); Asa’s sickness and end (2Ch_16:11-14; cf. parallel in 1Ki_15:16-24).
2Ch_16:1-6.—Baasha invades Judah. Six and thirtieth. Baasha died before this date (1Ki_15:33). Critics consider the date calculated from the separation of the kingdoms, and coincident with 16th year of Asa’s reign. A mode of reckoning generally followed in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, the public annals of the time (2Ch_16:11), the source from which the inspired historian drew his account (cf. Jamieson and Keil). Built, i.e., fortified. Go out, to prevent all communication between the countries. “The fortification of Ramah by Baasha presupposes his recovery of the cities, which had been taken by Abijah from the northern kingdom, and which, according to ch. 2Ch_15:8, were still in Asa’s possession” [Keil]. Benhadah, Benhidri in Assyrian monuments; Ader in Sept., to whom smaller provinces round Damascus (Heb. Darmesck) were subject. 2Ch_16:3. There is, let there be a league, &c. 2Ch_16:4. Ijon, city of Naphtali (1Ki_15:20). Dan colonised (Judges 18; Jos_19:47). Abel-maim, “meadow of waters,” supposed to be situated on marshy plain near uppermost lake of Jordan. Store or “all Cinneroth and all the land of Naphtali” in 1Ki_15:20. Both statements true and supplementary. 2Ch_16:5. Cease. Baasha might intend to reside in Ramah. Unexpected hostilities from his son and ally prevented further progress, and Baasha’s death soon after interrupted work of fortifying. 2Ch_16:6. No actual engagement mentioned. Geba (Jos_18:24). Mizpah (Gen_31:45-55).
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2Ch_16:7-10. Asa reproved by prophet Hanani. Hanani, father of Jehu the prophet (2Ch_19:2) Relied not on God, from whom prosperity and former victory, but on man. Escaped. That is, if he had trusted in God he would not only have defeated the army of Baasha, but that of Benhadad. His conduct in parting with temple treasures and bribing an ally of the King of Israel most foolish and lost him a splendid victory. 2Ch_16:8. The huge host of the Ethiopians overcome by God’s help. Assyria would have been, had Asa trusted in God 2Ch_16:9. For, a striking description of divine providence over the man whose heart is perfect with God. 2Ch_16:10. This address vexed Asa, and spread discontent among his people, whom he oppressed, tried to crush in some form or other. He maltreated the prophet. Prison, house of stocks, a sort of torture for crime—Heb., house of distortion, because limbs were so set and fixed as to be twisted and distorted in it.
2Ch_16:11-14.—Asa’s sickness and end. Book of Kings, a public record of civil events. Diseased, a kind of gout, but uncertain, began two years before death (2Ch_16:13), became greatly “moved upwards” in body and proved violent in nature. Yet, as in war, so in sickness, he put undue confidence in man. Physicians, Egyptians in high repute at foreign courts, who pretended to expel disease by charms and mystic rites. Buried him in a rock tomb; made, digged by himself, in his lifetime, as often done by Oriental kings, with special funeral magnificence; odours to neutralise offensive smells of corpse exposed on “the bed” to public view, or to embalm with aromatic spices in great profusion. Great burning. According to some, consuming spices customary at funerals of kings; according to others, for cremation of the body, “a usage which was at that time, and long after, prevalent among the Hebrews, and the omission of which in the case of royal personages was reckoned a great indignity (ch. 2Ch_21:19; 1Sa_31:12; Jer_34:5; Amo_6:10)” [Jam.].
HOMILETICS
THE FOLLY OF BRIBERY.—2Ch_16:1-10
Asa hired the help of a heathen neighbour, the powerful King of Syria, to defend himself against the attack of Baasha. This considered prudent, a good stroke of policy, but trust in man, not in God, and met with condemnation from Hanani the seer.
I. It led to sacrilege in religious things. Treasures of the temple were diverted from sacred to worldly use. The sanctuary and the palace robbed to bribe an earthly king to help! Religious ordinances desecrated, justice sold, and men bribed often by “silver and gold”; gifts bestowed or promised with a view to prevent judgment or corrupt morals abominable. Bribery a canker in constitutional governments, a disgrace in all departments of life. He who presents a bribe perpetuates moral evil, sacrifices both truth and right to selfish interests. Absalom bribed the people to become the king. Judas bribed by high priests to effect the death of Christ.
“Judges and senates have been bought for gold:
Esteem and love were never to be sold” [Pope].
II. It brought down Divine reproof. God not bribed, comes on the scene in the person of the prophet, “At that time Hanani the seer came” (2Ch_16:7). Wrong must be condemned, right declared, and severe reproof administered to evil-doers.
1. Asa acted unworthy of God’s representative. Kings, priests, and judges God’s vicegerents, must be free from corruption and bribery. “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift.”
2. Asa sought not God’s help. “Because thou hast relied on the King of Syria and not relied on the Lord thy God.” When God is forsaken he will assert his supremacy and claims in conscience, in providence, in affliction. Wicked men not allowed to indulge in excuses and selfish pleas; nor to plead the power of circumstances, the force of reason, and the probability of success. Never put money before duty, man before God!
II. It defeated its own ends. “Herein thou hast done foolishly.” Man’s foresight not always wise.
1. Asa missed the opportunity of a double victory. “Therefore is the host of the King of Syria escaped out of thine hand.” A victory over the combined forces of Baasha and Benhadad more splendid than that over the Ethiopians lost by his conduct Possible by unnecessary and improper alliances to hinder our good and prevent God from granting deliverance.
2. Asa exposed himself to greater danger. “Therefore from henceforth thou shalt have war” (2Ch_16:9). The cupidity of the one increased the hostility of the other (1Ki_15:32). Those who bribe and those bribed not to be depended upon. Money will dissolve the most solemn league. For gold men will sell their votes, their conscience, and themselves. Cato complained that M. Cœlius the Tribune “might be hired for a piece of bread to speak or to hold his peace.” Never rule conduct by the fear of man instead of trust in God. “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe (may set on high above danger, &c.)” (Pro_29:25).
THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY.—2Ch_16:2-4
There seems much to excuse Asa’s conduct. In his days it was often thought right to buy oneself out of danger. But the bribery of Benhadad condemned and cannot be justified. Learn the influence of money.
I. There is a lawful use of money. Used for educational and philanthropic purposes, to encourage industry, arts, and sciences, to relieve distress and advance the cause of God, it is better than fleets and armies. Rightly used, “money answereth all things.”
II. There is an unlawful use of money. Used for selfish ends, to frustrate right and bribe men to wrong. It may buy men in limbs, intellect, and conscience; make peace and create war. It is one of the mightiest rulers, one of the most popular gods in the world! “A man furnished with the arguments from the mint will convince his antagonist much sooner than one who draws them from reason and philosophy. Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding, it dissipates every doubt and scruple in an instant; accommodates itself to the meanest capacities; silences the loud and clamorous, and brings over the most obstinate and inflexible” [Addison].
III. The unlawful use of money becomes a curse. Put against duty, virtue, and God, its power is pernicious. It breaks up alliances, prepares for temptations, corrupts human nature, and influences to injustice. “Benhadad hearkened unto King Asa” and was a striking contrast to Hanani. True religion only begets love for truth, upholds commercial honesty, social order, and just government. God rewards the man who resists bribes and acts uprightly. “He that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure.”
ASA’S VAIN HELP.—2Ch_16:2-4; 2Ch_16:12
Years of prosperity did not make Asa a better man. “In all time of our wealth, &c.” He forgot need of help, and in times of danger resorted to worldly policy and trusted not to God.
I. In time of war he relied upon human help. In northern kingdom, Baasha exterminated posterity of Jeroboam, ruled upon the throne, and menaced Jerusalem. Ramah, on the dividing lines of the two kingdoms, built and held in defence. Baasha strengthened himself in his bold designs by league with King of Syria, but was bought off, bribed to help Asa. This political wisdom, but spiritual folly; prospered for a time, but costly in its triumph. It might be prevalent custom, but not the path of duty. Is our code of honour any purer? Do we seek to get out of difficulties by questionable means? Give money for leagues, covenants, and deliverance? Such reliance is vain help, entails mischiefs in social and spiritual matters which outweigh all apparent gains. Better confide in God than in our own schemes. “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”
II. In time of sickness he relied upon foreign physicians. No harm in physician’s, but physicians without scientific training, physicians with only charms and mystic arts, are “physicians of no value.” (Heathen doctors and witchcraft.)
1. This foolish conduct. “Sought not to the Lord,” after his former experience of God’s faithfulness and truth, after his stern reproof by the prophet. What avails physicians of greatest skill and kindness without God? Entire confidence in creature, misplaced and dishonours God.
2. This useless conduct. Physicians could not cure; the disease spread, and recovery impossible. Physicians, ministers, and friends but men, not to be despised, only used as servants of God, and not as sum-totals. In all extremities, sickness, and death, call upon the Lord for help. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help (salvation)” (Psa_146:3). “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?”
THIS MINISTRY OF TRUTH.—2Ch_16:7-10
I. Exercised by a Divine messenger. “Hanani the seer came to Asa, King of Judah”—specially qualified and commissioned by God. “The Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling-place.”
II. Revealing the true source of help. Asa overcame Ethiopians with very many chariots and horsemen. “Because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.” Men could not be reproved for doing wrong if they knew no right—for not trusting God, if God was not revealed to them.
III. Treated with injustice. “Asa was wroth with the seer and put him in a prison, &c.” Rejection of Divine reproof sadly common and self-ruinous. Message despised and messenger persecuted. “He that refuseth instruction (correction) despiseth his own soul.”
IV. Justified by its results. Truth may be kept down, but never crushed; prophets imprisoned or put to death, but right prevails. Divine reproofs attested by conscience, vindicated by providence. Revenge is impotent. God’s purpose cannot be frustrated.
GOD’S PROVIDENCE IN THE WORLD.—2Ch_16:9
God would have helped Asa if he had called upon him; for he is everywhere present in time of need—specially ready to help those who trust Him.
I. Providence benevolent in its design. “To show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” He not only sees danger, but delivers from it, keeps and defends his people. If King Philip could sleep safely because his friend Antipater watched over him, how much more kind and efficient the providence of God!
II. Providence personal in its exercise. “We learn from observation of others. God inspects and rules of himself—not by abstract laws and principles merely, not by secondary causes, not by the eyes and agencies of inferior creatures. “He shews himself strong” in purpose and proceedings.
III. Providence minute in its inspection. “To and fro,’ publicly and privately, in thought and act. His vigilance ever active and never worn out. Nothing escapes his notice nor eludes his grasp. “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.”
IV. Providence universal in its extent. “Through the whole earth.” Diana’s temple was burnt down when she was busied at Alexander’s birth. “I cannot be everywhere present,” cried Napoleon when he lost one battle in trying to gain another. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place”—on sea and land, in society and solitude. We cannot go from his spirit nor flee from his presence. In heaven above and hell beneath (Psalms 139).
“What can ’scape the eye
Of God, all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Omniscient?” [Milton].
V. Providence swift in its operation. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro.” Implying celerity, swiftness in giving relief. Delay only when needful and good for us. In promise and fulfilment, “his word runneth very swiftly.” Lessons—Encouragement for the believer, a warning to the wicked, a reason for circumspection to all.
THE EYES OF THE LORD.—2Ch_16:9
I. The description of providence. “Eyes of the Lord” in Scripture signify—
1. His knowledge.
2. His providence.
(1) The immediateness of providence—His own eyes.
(2) Its celerity and speed.
(3) Its extent.
(4) Its diligence.
(5). Its efficacy.
II. The design of providence. “To show himself strong, &c.”
1. He has strong understanding, and wisdom to contrive.
2. Strong affection to love.
3. Strong words to cheer and fortify.
4. A strong arm to exert almighty power. The persons for whom those who are truly gracious and sincere [J. Ryland, sen., 1750].
ASA’S PERTINACITY IN WRONG-DOING
I. When reproved for sin he did not confess it. In consequence he committed one evil after another. David reproved by Nathan was conscience-stricken, melted to penitence and confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Not so Asa.
II. He added greater guilt by trying to hide his sin. He denied it, got into a rage with the seer, and persecuted him. Reproved, probably in the presence of courtiers; he was haughty, took advantage of his circumstances, and adopted severe measures in apparent refutation of his sin. “To hide a sin with a lie is like a crust of leprosy over an ulcer,” says Jeremy Taylor. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
III. When he would neither confess nor forsake his sin God sent affliction, which did not at first humble him. Man could not lodge Asa from his hiding-place, but God’s resources are never exhausted. What the final issue was appears uncertain. From Scripture references the last expedient might humble the king and bring him to God. But at beginning of sickness not in right state of mind, and applied to wrong source for help. “This is a striking example of pertinacity in sin, which carries with it a solemn warning. Who would have expected this of the once pious Asa! What an urgent enforcement does this example furnish of the exhortation of the apostle: ‘Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, &c.’ That, indeed, must be a most treacherous and deceitful thing which could lead a rational and religious being so far away from the truth and piety as thus to persist in his iniquity, and attempt to justify himself before God—yea, more than that, virtually to engage in an unequal warfare with Heaven, and to accomplish, by unblessed means, what God had pronounced impracticable” [Rev. W. Sparrow].
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
2Ch_16:5-6. He built Geba. Fortifications demolished.
1. Men prostrated in their wicked design.
2. The materials by which they carried out that design captured and used for opposite purposes. Ramah taken, “the stones and timber” used to build other defences. Voltaire’s printing press, by which he sought to deluge France with infidelity, fell into the hands of the Bible Society, and employed to spread the word of God. The strongholds of the world become the defences of the Church. I. This illustrated by the case of Ramah. II. It has been often observed since—
1. The world’s stronghold of science has been rifled by the Church for its defence, and the world defeated with its own weapons.
2. By the grace of God, men who were as Ramah—Saul of Tarsus for example—have been made as the outworks of Christianity [Bib. Museum]. It is a fine use to which Bossuet has turned this military incident as illustrating the duty, not of rejecting the materials or the arguments collected by unbelievers or by heretics, but of employing them to build up the truth, “Bâtissons les forteresses de Juda des débris et des ruines de celles de Samarie” [Stanley].
2Ch_16:9. Whatever is done in the world falls under the notice of God. Not that he needs move from place to place, or run up and down from country to country to see what is done, for by one infinite, indivisible act, he beholdeth all things in all places; but the Scripture thus teaches the infallibility and particularity of his knowledge; even as we are said to know those things infallibly which we have viewed upon the place; for otherwise there is neither high nor low, far nor near, first nor last, to God all things being at once before him for ever (Jer_23:23). If the Lord is everywhere, let us everywhere see the Lord. Moses saw him that was invisible. Did we but keep this common principle warm upon our spirits, The Lord seeth under the whole heaven, how heavenly would our lives be! And seeing the Lord seeth as under the whole heaven, so into the hearts of all men, how should it deter us, even from heart sins, and the closest hypocrisy! Again, the Lord seeing in all things, disposeth all things. As his hand set up all in order at first, so his eye hath kept all in order ever since, and will do for ever. Take these conclusions concerning the sight of God: First, the Lord beholdeth all things distinctly, not in gross only—the least as well as the greatest. He looks upon every parcel and opens the whole pack of human affairs. Secondly, he beholds every thing and person perfectly, fully, quite through. His is an intentive and most attentive view. Thirdly, in seeing he governs everything effectually and works it to his own ends. Fourthly, he seeth all things together, not successively, or one thing after another. He that is all eye seeth all at once, all is one. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” Hence, take two inferences: the first serving for the instruction and consolation of all who know and fear God; and the second for conviction and terror to the wicked [Caryl].
2Ch_16:12-14. Asa’s End.
1. Asa’s sickness and death. At first affliction unimproved, grew more severe. Death sad, certain, and hopeful.
2. Asa’s burial, magnificent, honoured, and admonitory. “The eminent piety and usefulness of good men,” says one, “ought to be remembered to their praise, though they have had their blemishes. Let their faults be buried in their graves, while their services are remembered over their graves. He that said, ‘There is not a just man that doeth good and sinneth not,’ yet said also, ‘The memory of the just is blessed,’ and let it be so.”
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 16
2Ch_16:3-6. Silver. “A bribe is a price; reward, gift, or favour bestowed or promised, with a view to pervert the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness, or other person” [Webster]. “Philip of Macedon was a man of most invincible reason this way,” says Addison. “He refuted by it all the wisdom of Athens—confounded their statesmen, struck their orators dumb, and at length argued them out of their liberties” [quoted by Dr. Thomas].
2Ch_16:9. Strong. Cæsar was accustomed to write short letters. One of his generals, Quintus Cicero, was in great extremity, being besieged by fierce hordes of Gauls, when he received from him the following message: “Cæsar to Cicero: Keep up your spirits. Expect help.” Let us expect help from God, trust to him instead of relying on man in times of extremity and danger.
2Ch_16:10. Wroth with the seer. The most difficult province in friendship is letting a man see his faults and errors, which should, if possible, be so contrived that he may perceive our advice is given him not so much to please ourselves as for his own advantage. The reproaches therefore of a friend should always be strictly just and not too frequent [Bacon].
2Ch_16:13-14. Asa slept.
“Kings then at last have but the lot of all,
By their own conduct they must stand or fall” [Cowper].
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Sermon Bible 1900 · Public Domain On v1 2Ch 16:9
2Ch 16:9
I. Notice, first, God’s continued inspection of all that passes on this earth. We may affirm it as evident that nothing can happen on any spot of the peopled immensity which is not known to Him who is emphatically the Omniscient. Indeed, it were to deny the omniscience of God to suppose any, the most trivial, incident not included within His knowledge. And it is far more than the inspection of an ever-vigilant observer which God throws over the concerns of creation. It is not merely that nothing can happen without the knowledge of our Maker; it is that nothing can happen without His knowledge or permission, for we must ever remember that God is the First Cause, and that on the first all secondary causes depend.
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II. All the motions of Providence have for their ultimate end the good of those whose heart is perfect towards God. (1) If God sent His own Son to deliver man from the consequences of transgression and to extirpate evil from the universe, we cannot doubt that the objects which engaged so stupendous an interposition must still be those to whose furtherance the Divine dealings tend. The great object which Providence proposes is the stability and exaltation of Christ’s Church, seeing it is for the very purpose of showing Himself strong on behalf of the righteous that "the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." (2) It is not only in reference to the Church at large that we are warranted in thus speaking of God’s providence. Of each member in this Church we may declare that God watches sedulously over him, with the express design of succouring him with all needful assistance. We have promises that nothing shall harm us, but that all things shall work together for our good, if we walk obediently in love and are followers of Christ.
H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit, No. 3120.
Reference: 2Ch 16:9.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xx., No. 1152.
The Sermon Bible, ed. William Robertson Nicoll (1888–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. R. Dummelow 1909 · Public Domain On v1 Reign of Asa (concluded)
Reign of Asa (concluded)
This chapter reproduces with some verbal differences 1Ki_15:17-24, but adds an account of a rebuke received by Asa from the seer Hanani.
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1. Six and thirtieth] Since, according to 1Ki_16:8, Baasha did not live until the 36th year of Asa. some have supposed that the six and thirtieth year is reckoned from the revolt of the Ten Tribes.
4. The store cities of Naphtali] LXX suggests that the true reading is 'the surrounding parts of Naphtali.'
7. Hanani] Nothing is known of him beyond what is here related, and the fact that he was the father of the prophet Jehu (2Ch_19:2). Because thou hast relied] cp. the similar protests of Isaiah against reliance upon foreign support instead of upon the Lord (Isa_30:1; Isa_31:1). The host of.. Syria] The prophet seems to imply that Asa might have beaten both Israel and Syria, if he had trusted in the Lord.
8. Lubims] These were not amongst the forces of Zerah (2Ch_14:9), but those of Shishak (2Ch_12:3).
12. Sought not to the Lord] Contrast the conduct of Hezekiah in his sickness: see 2Ki_20:2.
14. A very great burning] i.e. of the spices previously mentioned: cp. Jer_34:5. The bodies of the dead were not ordinarily burnt but buried; the burning of the bodies of Saul and Jonathan (1Sa_31:12) was exceptional.
J. R. Dummelow, A Commentary on the Holy Bible (Macmillan, 1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v1 to Asa
to Asa
i.e. none of his subjects. 2Ch 16:5; 2Ch 16:6; 2Ch 15:9.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Arno C. Gaebelein 1922 · Public Domain On v1 CHAPTER 16 Asa’s Relapse and Death
CHAPTER 16 Asa’s Relapse and Death
1. War between Asa and Baasha (2Ch 16:1-6)
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2. Hanani’s rebuke (2Ch 16:7-9)
3. Hanani imprisoned (2Ch 16:10-11)
4. Asa’s illness and death (2Ch 16:12-14)
Much has been made by critics of the supposed wrong date, the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa. Compare 1Ki 15:33 with the first verse of this chapter to see the apparent discrepancy. If the invasion of Judah by Baasha occurred shortly after the events recorded in the previous chapter, it was in the thirty-sixth year after the revolt of the ten tribes. This presents a possible solution. Others think it is the error of a scribe.
As the dates in 2Ch 15:19; 2Ch 16:1 are incompatible with that of Baasha’s death (1Ki 16:8), and consequently, of course, with that of Baasha’s war against Asa, commentators have tried to obviate the difficulty, either by supposing that the numeral 35 refers, not to the date of Asa’s accession, but to that of the separation of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, or else by emendating the numeral in the book of the Chronicles. The latter is, evidently, the only satisfactory solution. There is manifestly here a copyist’s mistake, and the numeral which we would substitute for 35 is not 15 but 25--and this for reasons too long to explain (Bible History).
Asa relapsed and failed when Baasha, King of Israel, came against Judah and built Ramah. (See annotations, 1 Kings 15 and 16.) In unbelief Asa made an alliance with the King of Syria. He feared Baasha very much. In Jer 41:9, we read of a pit which he made for fear of Baasha; probably to hide there. “The fear of man bringeth a snare.” How this reveals the weakness of man! After all the evidences of the LORD’s mercy and power Asa could forsake thus the LORD and enter into an unholy alliance with a heathen king. He gained the object he sought and Baasha was forced to abandon his plan. But God had been a witness of it all. He sent through Hanani (graciously given by the Lord the meaning of his name) and rebuked the king for what he had done. The LORD reminds him of the far greater host which threatened him (14:9-15) and the deliverance He had wrought. Beautiful are the final words of Hanani. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” The Lord looks for faith, for confidence. Our hearts are perfect toward Him when we trust Him and are obedient to His Word. Then all His power is with us and for us.
Wars to the end was the punishment announced upon Asa. And Asa showed his true state of Soul, when, instead of saying, “I have sinned,” he began to rage; when instead of beseeching Hanani to pray for him, he put him in prison. He was away from the LORD and his behavior made it known. Stricken by disease, no doubt to humble him and bring him back to the Lord, he sought not the LORD, but the physicians. These were in all probability magicians; who used enchantments. There was no return unto the LORD; no repentance.
Arno C. Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible (1913–1922) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v1 Asa’s League with Damascus
Asa’s League with Damascus
v. 1. In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, or, more exactly, so many years after the division of the kingdom, in Asa’s sixteenth year, Baasha, king of Israel, the successor of Nadab, who followed Jeroboam, came up against Judah and built Ramah, on his southern boundary, about six miles north of Jerusalem, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa, king of Judah, since the prosperity of Judah and the purity of its religious worship were attracting people from the northern kingdom in increasing numbers. Cf 1Ki 15:16-22.
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v. 2. Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, a part of the immense sums gathered by David and Solomon, and sent to Benhadad, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
v. 3. There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father, for the Syrian kingdoms had apparently ceased to be tributary to the Jews after the division of the kingdom; behold, I have sent thee silver and gold, namely, with the present embassy, which he had taken from the treasuries of Jerusalem; go, break thy league with Baasha, king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
v. 4. And Benhadad hearkened unto King Asa, induced to do so by the greatness of the present sent to him, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, to divert Baasha from his purpose by an attack on his country; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, two cities on the extreme northern border of Israel, and Abelmaim, or, Abel-beth-maachah, situated on a marshy plain near the sources of Jordan, and all the store cities of Naphtali, probably such cities in which the surplus of grain was stored.
v. 5. And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and therewith his hostile undertaking against Judah, and let his work cease. It was never resumed, for his death occurred shortly afterwards.
v. 6. Then Asa the king took all Judah, he assembled all able-bodied men; and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah, he fortified cities on his own border. It was a weakness of Asa to place his trust in the king of Syria. But to this day the danger is great for believers to turn from the Lord in the hour of distress and trouble and to rely upon weak, mortal men.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 2, 4 the thirty-sixth year
the thirty-sixth year
"year 36" (See: Numbers)
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built up Ramah
It is implied that the army of Baasha first captured Ramah. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. AT: "captured and fortified Ramah" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
so that he might not allow anyone to
"so that no one could"
translationWords
Asa
reign
Baasha
king
kingdom of Israel
kingdom of Judah
Ramah
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv1, 2, 4, 6 16:1-10 Instead of trusting the Lord, Asa relied on…
16:1-10 Instead of trusting the Lord, Asa relied on foreign powers when Baasha attacked. The Chronicler’s theological purpose was to show that disobedience has consequences.
16:1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign: According to the book of Kings, King Baasha (909–886 BC) died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign (1 Kgs 16:8). One solution is that the Chronicles text might contain transmission errors and should instead read the fifteenth and sixteenth years (about 895 BC) instead of the thirty-fifth (2 Chr 15:19) and thirty-sixth years of Asa. Another possibility is that the Chronicler counted these years from the division of the kingdom. • Ramah was located five miles north of Jerusalem near Geba and Mizpah (see 16:6). King Baasha expanded Israel deep into the territory of Benjamin, separating important territory from Judah very shortly after the victories of Abijah (13:19).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.