2 Chronicles 16

2 Chronicles 16:1

16:1 Late in the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel attempted to prevent his own people from defecting to Asa by fortifying Ramah, a town not far from Jerusalem. 16:2-6 Asa turned to the assistance of man instead of trusting in the arm of the Lord, as he had done earlier when invaded by the Ethiopians. He sent the Lord’s treasure to purchase the help of Ben-Hadad. The Syrian king then attacked . . . Israel from the north and forced Baasha to withdraw from Ramah in order to defend his northern border. Asa’s scheme apparently worked, but God was displeased. 16:7-10 The end certainly did not justify the means in Jehovah’s eyes, so He sent His prophet Hanani to speak to Asa. Hanani boldly accused the king of acting foolishly. Had not the LORD . . . delivered him from the Ethiopians? Was not God continually looking for men through whom He could work? Since Asa had chosen to fight according to the flesh, he would have wars from then on. Asa . . . was enraged. Instead of heeding the word of the Lord, as he had done earlier (2Ch_15:8), he put Hanani in prison. 16:11-14 Asa chose to work contrary to the way of the Lord, so the Lord afflicted him with a foot disease. But he still refused to repent and turn back to Jehovah. He tried the physicians instead, and shortly thereafter died. Some think that the physicians may have been magicians or spiritistic healers. Despite his sad end, Asa was one of the best kings Judah had (2Ch_15:17). The people greatly mourned his death. The very great burning of verse 14 refers to burning incense, not to the cremation of his body.