2 Chronicles 16
Meaning of 2 Chronicles 16
“2 Chronicles 16” is a passage in the second book of Chronicles in the Old Testament of the Bible.
The entire chapter is about King Asa of Judah and his actions towards the end of his reign.
At the beginning of the chapter, Asa is in conflict with the king of Israel, Baasha. Baasha is building a city, Ramah, to keep anyone from going out or coming into Asa’s territory. In response, Asa takes silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the royal palace and sends them to Ben-Hadad, King of Aram, who is based in Damascus, breaking his treaty with the King of Israel. Ben-Hadad attacks Israel, and Baasha stops building Ramah to defend his territory. After Baasha leaves, Asa uses the materials from Ramah to build up Geba and Mizpah.
Despite this apparent victory, Asa is criticised by a seer named Hanani for relying on the king of Aram rather than trusting in God. Hanani tells Asa that because of this, he will face war for the rest of his reign, a prophecy that angers Asa. As a result, Asa imprisons Hanani and begins oppressing some of the people.
The chapter ends with an account of Asa’s final years. He suffers from a severe foot disease, yet he does not seek help from God, only from physicians. After his death, he is buried in a tomb that he had prepared in the city of David. He is laid to rest with a great amount of spices and a very large fire is made in his honor. Thus, Chronicles 16 can be seen as a cautionary tale about placing trust in human alliances rather than relying on God.
2 Chronicles 16 kjv
2 Chronicles 16 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the King James Bible. Here’s a general outline of the chapter:
– Verses 1-6: This section describes King Asa of Judah’s actions when he found out that Baasha, King of Israel, was constructing fortifications in the town of Ramah. Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house and sent it to Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, asking him to end his treaty with Baasha, king of Israel, so that Baasha would have to deal with an attack from Aram and would hence stop building his fortifications. Afterwards, the king of Aram agreed and attacked the cities of Israel, causing Baasha to end his work on the fortifications. Asa then commanded Judah to carry away the stones and timber Baasha had been using, to build his fortifications in Geba and Mizpah.
– Verses 7-10: A prophet named Hanani addressed Asa and criticized him for relying on the king of Aram, rather than on God to deal with the threat of Israel. Hanani then prophesied that because of this, Asa would face war for the remainder of his reign. Enraged by this prophecy, Asa had the prophet put into prison.
– Verses 11-14: This section describes the latter part of Asa’s life. Asa developed a severe disease in his feet, but instead of seeking the Lord’s assistance, he sought help from physicians. Asa died in the 41st year of his reign and was buried in a tomb that he had hewn out for himself in the city of David.
This chapter ultimately serves as a parable of trust in God versus trust in worldly forces. Asa’s early faith in God brought him victory and peace, but his later reliance on his own human efforts and alliances instead of God’s help brought him disease and war.
2 Chronicles 16 nkjv
2 Chronicles 16 is from the Old Testament of the Bible. In this chapter, it describes the last years of the reign of Asa, king of Judah.
At the beginning of the chapter, Asa finds himself at war with Baasha, king of Israel. Instead of seeking God’s help in this conflict, Asa takes the gold and silver from the treasury of the temple and his palace and sends it as a bribe to Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (Syria). He uses it to convince Ben-Hadad to break his treaty with Baasha and invade Israel. Ben-Hadad does so, which distracts Baasha from his war with Judah, which allows Asa to tear down Baasha’s fortifications.
However, a prophet named Hanani comes to Asa and reproaches him for relying on the king of Aram and not on the Lord. He tells Asa that because of this, Asa will have wars for the rest of his reign. Asa becomes angry with Hanani and puts him in prison.
In his later years, Asa developed a disease in his feet. Even in his illness, he didn’t seek help from the Lord but only from the physicians. After a long reign of 41 years, Asa passes away and is succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat. As per the customs, he is mourned by his people and is then buried in the city of David.
Through Asa’s story in this chapter, the author is emphasizing the importance of seeking help from God, even in the face of great adversity or distress. The text underscores the belief that failure to do so can result in negative consequences.
2 Chronicles 16 niv
2 Chronicles 16 is part of the Old Testament in the Bible. Here’s a brief summary of the narrative in New International Version (NIV):
This chapter narrates the events under the reign of Asa, the king of Judah. Asa was previously depicted as a pious and righteous king who led a religious reform in Judah.
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha, king of Israel, attacked Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering Asa’s territory. Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and sent it to Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, asking him to break his treaty with Baasha and create a diversion. Ben-Hadad attacked Israel upon Asa’s request, which caused Baasha to stop fortifying Ramah and to withdraw his forces.
Despite Asa’s successful tactics, Hanani the seer (a prophet) came to him and criticized his faithless actions. Hanani said that Asa relied on the king of Aram instead of God, and hence will be constantly at war. Asa was jaded by Hanani’s prophecy and put him in prison, also oppressing some of the people at the same time.
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. This disease was severe, yet he did not seek the LORD’s help, but the help of physicians only.
Lastly, the chapter sums up the ancient historical record by describing Asa’s death in the forty-first year of his reign and his burial in a tomb that he had hewn out for himself in the city of David.
What is 2 Chronicles 16 all about?
2 Chronicles 16 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible which outlines the final years of King Asa’s rule in the kingdom of Judah.
The chapter begins with an act of faithlessness by King Asa. In the thirty-sixth year of his reign, King Asa finds his kingdom under attack from Israel, led by King Baasha. Instead of turning to the Lord for assistance, King Asa enlists the aid of Ben-hadad, the king of Aram. Asa takes treasures from the house of the Lord and his own palace, and sends them to Ben-hadad as a bribe to break his treaty with the King of Israel, that he might assist him.
The strategy succeeds from a military perspective; Ben-hadad breaks his treaty with Israel and attacks its cities, prompting King Baasha of Israel to withdraw from Judah. However, God sends Hanani the seer to chastise Asa for relying on the King of Aram instead of trusting the Lord for deliverance, reminding him of how God delivered the Ethiopians and Libyans into his hands when he relied on Him. Because of his lack of faith, Asa is told that he will have wars for the rest of his reign.
Unfortunately, rather than repent, Asa responds in anger, imprisons Hanani and oppresses the people. In his later years, he suffers from a severe foot disease but still he does not seek help from the Lord but only from the physicians. King Asa dies in the forty-first year of his reign and is buried in his own tomb that he had prepared. He is succeeded by his son, Jehoshaphat.
Overall, 2 Chronicles 16 illustrates the consequences of turning away from God, relying on human efforts and alliances, and highlights the importance of faith in God for guidance and deliverance.
What does 2 Chronicles 16 teaches?
2 Chronicles Chapter 16 is a passage that reflects upon the final years of King Asa’s reign. Though Asa was known to be a righteous king who did what was good in the eyes of the Lord, this chapter shows his fall from faith due to a number of his actions:
1) In the chapter, Asa forms an alliance with the king of Syria to break a treaty with Baasha, king of Israel. In taking this action, Asa relied on political alliances for protection rather than trusting in God’s provisions.
2) Asa gave treasures from the temple of God and his own palace to Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, to secure this alliance. This shows Asa’s devaluation of God’s sacred possessions, using them for his own political gain.
3) When Hanani the prophet confronts Asa about his lack of faith, Asa becomes angry and imprisons him. This shows Asa’s hardness of heart and refusal to accept reproof from God’s spokesperson.
4) When Asa falls sick, he seeks help from physicians instead of seeking aid from God. This was his final act of distrust and self-reliance.
Ultimately, the lessons that 2 Chronicles 16 teaches are about the importance of staying reliant upon God, irrespective of circumstances. It shows the dangers of drifting away from God, placing our trust in human strength, and resisting His correction.
A Sermon on 2 Chronicles 16
2 Chronicles chapter 16 is a significant passage in the Old Testament which speaks about the actions and consequences faced by Asa, who was a king of Judah.
Let’s explore this in three sections:
1. Asa’s Reliance on Syria instead of God (Vs. 1-6)
2. Hanani’s rebuke of Asa (Vs. 7-10)
3. The Death of King Asa (Vs. 11-14)
1. Asa’s Reliance on Syria instead of God (Vs. 1-6):
In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel attacks Judah. Instead of turning to God for help, as he had done so successfully in the past, Asa forms an alliance with Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. Asa sends silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s temple to bribe Ben-Hadad to break his treaty with Baasha. The ploy works; Baasha stops building and leaves Judah.
2. Hanani’s rebuke of Asa (Vs. 7-10):
The Seer Hanani confronts Asa for relying on king of Aram and not trusting in the Lord. With a note of prophetic forewarning, he advises Asa that from now on, he will have wars. Here, we are reminded of the importance and the blessings that come with relying on God rather than on our strength or human alliances. Angered by Hanani’s words, Asa imprisons him and oppresses some of the people.
3. The Death of King Asa (Vs. 11-14):
In the 39th year of his reign, Asa becomes diseased in his feet. Even then, he did not seek help from the Lord but only from the physicians. Later, Asa dies, and his burial is marked with a big funeral pyre fragrant with various spices.
The central theme of this sermon would be to wholeheartedly trust and rely on God during our trials, as illustrated by the mistakes made by King Asa. Secondly, it’s never favourable to oppose God’s messengers as Asa did with Hanani. Finally, Asa’s disease and his refusal to seek God’s help serves as a warning for all of us to seek the Lord’s guidance continuously.
Key people in 2 Chronicles 16
1. Asa: Asa is the king of Judah, the main character of this chapter. He is described as having initially done what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord but is later rebuked by the prophet Hanani for relying on the king of Aram instead of God. He responds negatively to the rebuke, showing a change in character. At the end of the chapter, he falls ill and dies.
2. Baasha: Baasha is the king of Israel during the same period. He is at war with Asa, king of Judah. In the chapter, Baasha builds a fort to block off Asa’s kingdom.
3. Ben-Hadad: Ben-Hadad is the king of Aram. King Asa sends treasures from the temple of God to bribe Ben-Hadad to break his treaty with Baasha, king of Israel, and assist Judah.
4. Hanani the seer: Hanani is a prophet who rebukes Asa for relying on Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, instead of God.
5. The Cushite: The Cushite is sent by Asa to fight against Baasha, king of Israel.
6. The physicians: They are the ones who attempt to treat Asa’s disease, but they are unsuccessful, and he dies.
These are the main people in 2 Chronicles 16, each playing a role in the unfolding story and showing some aspect of faithfulness, diplomatic strategy, and divine judgement.
Real world examples on 2 Chronicles 16
2 Chronicles 16 recounts the story of Asa, who was the king of Judah during Old Testament times. In this chapter, Asa falls into a serious error, which we can draw real-world lessons from.
1. Dependence on Human Aid over God:
In this chapter, King Asa, when faced with an impending attack from Israel, chooses to seek aid from Syria instead of turning to God for help. This is akin to modern instances when individuals or organizations face crises or issues. The temptation often is to solve these problems by our own means or leaning on other humans, often neglecting to seek divine guidance, assistance, or wisdom.
2. Improper Handling of Critisim:
When Hanani the seer rebuked Asa for not relying on God, Asa doesn’t accept the criticism graciously or consider that Hanani could be right. Instead, he becomes wrathful and puts Hanani in prison. This is relatable to how individuals or organizations today might respond defensively or aggressively to criticism instead of using it for growth and improvement.
3. Suffering Consequences for Choices:
As a consequence of not relying on God, Asa suffered from a disease in his feet. This didn’t happen instantly after he made this wrong choice, but some years later. Sometimes the consequences of our decisions may not appear immediately, and we may think we’ve escaped any negative outcomes, but they can come at a later time just like King Asa.
4. Ignoring Spiritual Health:
King Asa’s story reminds us that our spiritual health is important. Instead of seeking the Lord, Asa sought physicians for his illness. This can equate to how many people today focus solely on their physical health, neglecting their spiritual wellbeing.
This chapter teaches us about trust and dependence on God, handling criticism and offers a strong reminder of the consequences of neglecting our spiritual growth and wellbeing.
Brief Explanation of 2 Chronicles 16
2 Chronicles 16 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible that narrates the events during the reign of Asa, the king of Judah.
At the start of the chapter, Baasha, the King of Israel, plans an attack on Judah. Instead of turning to God for help, King Asa decides to form a treaty with Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. Asa takes valuable items from God’s temple and uses them as a bribe to convince Ben-Hadad to attack Baasha’s territories, which successfully prompts Baasha to withdraw from Judah.
However, a seer named Hanani confronts Asa about his decision to rely on the king of Aram instead of God. He condemns Asa’s lack of faith, telling him that because of his actions, Judah will now face more wars instead of enjoying peace.
Asa, unfortunately, reacts poorly to Hanani’s correction, has the seer put in prison, and then starts oppressing some of his people. Toward the end of his reign, Asa becomes seriously ill with a foot disease. Yet even in his illness, he does not seek God’s help but relies on physicians. Asa dies after reigning forty-one years, and his son Jehoshaphat, succeeds him. This chapter highlights the importance of relying on God instead of our own plans and the potential consequences of failing to do so.
Frequently asked questions for 2 Chronicles 16
1. Who is Asa who is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16?
Asa is a biblical figure mentioned in 2 Chronicles. He was the third king of the Kingdom of Judah and the fifth king of the House of David.
2. What did Asa do to Baasha, King of Israel, in 2 Chronicles 16:1-6?
According to the passage, Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and from his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, residing in Damascus, to break his treaty with Baasha, king of Israel. As a result, Baasha stopped his fortification of Ramah, and Asa had all Judah carry away the stones and timber that Baasha had used, and he used them to fortify Geba and Mizpah.
3. What is the ‘Book of the annals of the kings of Judah’ mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:11?
The Book of the annals of the kings of Judah is a lost text that was likely a record or chronicle of the kings of Judah, which was used as a source document by the writers of the Books of Kings and Chronicles.
4. Who was Hanani, the seer mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7?
Hanani was a prophet or seer who was sent to rebuke King Asa for relying on the King of Aram, and not on God. As a result, Asa would face war for the rest of his reign.
5. What illness did Asa suffer from in 2 Chronicles 16:12?
Verse 12 mentions that Asa suffered from a disease in his feet in his old age. The nature of the sickness is not specified in the passage, but it is said to have been severe and, instead of seeking the Lord for help, Asa sought help from physicians.
6. Who succeeded Asa as king, as mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:13?
According to 2 Chronicles 16:13, Asa was succeeded by his son, Jehoshaphat, after his death.
Remember, each interpretation can vary based on the version of the Bible used. The answers provided are based on a generally agreed interpretation from a standard version of the text.
Possible References for 2 Chronicles 16
2 Chronicles 16 is a chapter from the Old Testament in the Bible. This chapter addresses two significant events during the reign of Asa, who was king of Judah.
1. Verses 1-6: This part refers to King Asa’s alignment with Ben-hadad, the King of Syria. Asa took treasure from the temple and gave it to Ben-hadad as a bribe to break his treaty with Baasha, King of Israel, and instead to fight against Israel.
2. Verses 7-10: Here, the prophet Hanani criticizes King Asa for his reliance on Syria rather than God. As a result, Asa becomes angry and incarcerates the prophet, an act that contributes to the deterioration of his reign.
3. Verses 11-14: These verses describe the health problems King Asa experienced in his old age. He suffered from a disease in his feet, and instead of praying for healing, he seeks help only from physicians. The chapter ends with Asa’s death and burial in his capital city, Jerusalem.
This chapter is often interpreted as a reminder of the consequences of relying on worldly resources and human alliances instead of turning to and trusting in God during times of trouble. It emphasizes the importance of faith and reliance on divine guidance.
Conclusion on 2 Chronicles 16
2 Chronicles 16 is primarily about the events of King Asa’s final years of reign over Judah.
The chapter opens with the narrative of Asa being at war with King Baasha of Israel, who builds a fort in Ramah to block access to or from Judah. Instead of seeking the Lord’s help, Asa makes a treaty with Ben-Hadad king of Aram, convincing him to break his treaty with King Baasha, promising him silver and gold. The plan works, yet Asa’s reliance on an outside power instead of God does not go unnoticed, leading the prophet Hanani to reprimand Asa for his lack of faith.
In his rebuke, Hanani reminds Asa of the miraculous victory God gave him over the Cushite armies, stating the Lord would have given him victory over Aram too had he relied on Him: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.”
Angered and embarrassed by the rebuke, Asa mistreats Hanani and oppresses some of the people. His lack of repentance leads to severe consequences. He later becomes afflicted with a severe foot disease, yet continues in his pride and turns to physicians instead of seeking the Lord’s help. He dies two years later and is buried with great ceremony in a tomb that he had prepared.
The conclusion of 2 Chronicles 16 shows Asa’s failure to remain completely dependent on God despite His proven faithfulness. This highlights the Biblical principle that reliance on human strength, alliances and wisdom rather than God leads to disaster. Despite Asa’s earlier faithfulness, his later decisions tarnishes his legacy. It serves as a warning and reminder to all readers about continued dependency on God throughout one’s entire life.