2 Crônicas 16
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 16
NJB (LXX versing) Asa Wars Against Baasha Asa's Treaty With Syria The War with Baasha; Asa's Apostasy, Punishment, and Death Troubles with Israel War with Israel 16:1-6 16:1-6 16:1-6 16:1-3 16:1-6 16:4-6 Asa Imprisons the Prophet Hanani's Message to Asa The Prophet Hanani 16:7-10 16:7-10 16:7-10 16:7-10 16:7-10 Illness and Death of Asa The End of Asa's Reign The End of the Reign of Asa 16:11-14 16:11-12 16:11-14 16:11-14 16:11-14 16:13-14 Etc.
2 Crônicas 16:1-6
16:1 "In the thirty-sixth year" There is some confusion about this date. See notes at 2 Chr. 15:19 and Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 225-226. "Ramah" There are several cities by this name (BDB 928 II), which means "height." The one mentioned here is in the ancient tribal allocation of Benjamin, about four miles north of Jerusalem on the main highway. This would have been a strategic city (i.e., trade route). It was an obvious provocation by Israel (cf. 1 Kgs. 15:16-1). Possibly Baasha wanted to stop Israelite pilgrims from attending the feasts in Jerusalem. 16:2 Asa's actions in seeking help from Syria (i.e., by payment of the temple treasures) instead of trusting YHWH causes YHWH to send a prophet to confront him (2 Chr. 16:7), but Asa hardened his heart (v. 10). The alliance with Syria would have involved rituals using the names of Syrian's gods. Several of Judah's kings sought foreign/pagan military alliances. Asa ‒ here (Syria) Jehoshaphat ‒ 2 Chr. 20:35-37 (Israel) Ahaziah ‒ 2 Chr. 22:1-9 (Israel) Ahaz ‒ 2 Chr. 28:16-21 (Assyria) "Ben-hadad" This was a royal title for the kings of Syria. Literally, it is "son of Hadad" (BDB 122, a fertility deity). Scholars still debate how many kings went by this title. "hadad" He is an ANE storm god who gave rain for fertility (BDB 212). He is analogous with Ba'al, the Canaanite storm god. He is known by several names (ABA, p. 11) Hadad ‒ Amorites, Arameans (Syria) Adad ‒ Mesopotamia Hadda/Ba'al ‒ Canaan (Ras Shamra texts) Ramman/Rimmon ‒ 2 Kgs. 5:18 also Syrian Zech. 12:11 he was the war god of the Assyrians; his symbol was a young bull (like Ba'al) 16:3 Apparently Ben-hadad had a non-agression treaty with Baasha but gold and silver quickly caused him to change allegiance! 16:4 What Baasha did to Judah (i.e., loss of the trade route revenue) now Syria did to Israel. 16:6 Asa took the building materials of Baasha and used them to fortify two of his northern border cities (i.e., against further encroachment by Israel). However, this shows that a military success is not always a good thing or a divine thing.
2 Crônicas 16:7-10
16:7 "the seer" This is one of several terms used to denote a prophet. The Chronicler based his compilation on written prophetic sources. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DIFFERENT HEBREW TERMS FOR PROPHET "king of Syria" The second use of this phrase is surprising since the Syrians were purchased allies. There are some LXX MSS (i.e., Lucian) that have "the King of Israel" (cf. NEB, REB, TEV), which makes more contextual sense. The UBS Text Project, p. 462, gives "the army of the king of Aram" a "B" rating (some doubt). 16:8 The prophet reminds Asa of YHWH's marvelous deliverance from the army of Zerah, the Ethiopian in 2 Chr. 14:9-15. 16:9 "the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth" The "eyes" of the Lord is anthropomorphic imagery. The phrase "move to and fro" (BDB 1001, KB 1439, Polel ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) is an idiom used several times in the OT. here, to denote YHWH actively seeking those who have sought Him with their whole heart of those who seek YHWH, Dan. 12:4; Amos 8:12 for YHWH seeking one godly person in Jerusalem so as to spare it from judgment, Jer. 5:1 in connection to YHWH restoring the temple under Zerubbabel, Zech. 4:10 SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN "earth" This Hebrew word can mean "land," "country," or "earth," depending on the context. Here, it could refer to Canaan or if this has a monotheistic orientation, the whole earth. SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH (OT) "whose heart is completely His" This is an idiom for complete faith, obedience, and devotion. It was first used in various phrases in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 4:29; 6:5; 7:9; 10:12; 11:1,13,22; 19:9; 26:16; 30:2,6,10,16,20). It then was used in the historical books for occasions and actions of certain people. Solomon ‒ 1 Kgs. 8:23 Josiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 23:3 soldiers of David ‒ 1 Chr. 12:38 David counsels Solomon ‒ 1 Chr. 28:9 the people as they brought an offering for David's plans for the temple ‒ 1 Chr. 29:9 YHWH's obedient servants ‒ 2 Chr. 6:14 used of those who repent ‒ 2 Chr. 6:38 "You have acted foolishly in this" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOOLISH PEOPLE. "Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars" This is the opposite of YHWH's promised "rests" for His obedient covenant partners (i.e., Exod. 33:14; Deut. 3:20; 12:10; 25:19; Josh. 1:13,15; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1; 2 Sam. 7:1,11; 1 Kgs. 5:4; 1 Chr. 22:9,18; 23:25; 2 Chr. 14:6,7; 15:15; 20:30). 16:10 It is always dangerous to speak to power. But for Asa, who started so well (cf. 2 Chr. 14:2,17), like so many of the Israelite kings, his reign ended poorly. This is the first recorded royal action against YHWH's spokesman. Other persecution of prophets followed. Micaiah, son of Imla ‒ 2 Chr. 18:4-27 Zechariah, son of Jehoiada ‒ 2 Chr. 24:20-22 characteristics of the covenant people ‒ Matt. 5:12 John the Baptist by Herod ‒ Mark 6:14-29 Surprisingly, Kings omits the account. Usually most of the negative things about the kings of Judah are in Kings but omitted in Chronicles. This is just the reverse! "Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time" These were probably those who supported Hanani as a true prophet of YHWH. The text does not define "oppressed" but if Asa's treatment of Hanani is the example (i.e., not just prison, but stocks), it was severe.
2 Crônicas 16:11-14
16:11-14 This is the characteristic summary of Asa's life and reign. 16:11 "they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel" This is one of many written sources. See Introduction to Chronicles, IV. F. 16:12 "the physicians" This text does not condemn this practice (BDB 950) but just Asa's lack of trust in YHWH. See NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 1168-1169. Biblically YHWH is the "healer" of sin and sickness. Asa's rebellious spirit continued. He continued to trust humans, not YHWH. Ben-hadad of Syria ‒ 2 Chr. 16:1-4 the royal physicians ‒ 2 Chr. 16:12 16:14 "spices of various kinds" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BURIAL SPICES. "they made a great fire for him" There is no parallel in 1 Kgs. 15:23-24. This appears to be some kind of memorial (cf. 2 Chr. 21:19; Jer. 34:5) and not cremation. The use of "spices" strongly implies a burial. For a good brief discussion see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, "Death and Funeral Rites," pp. 56-61. SPECIAL TOPIC: CREMATION