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2 Chronicles 16

2 Chronicles 16

The big picture

2 Chronicles 16 opens in verse 1 with “In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because…”, and closes in verse 14 with “And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of…” Repeated or prominent terms include king, Judah, LORD, Baasha, Israel. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

2 Chronicles · King James Version · 14

2 Chronicles 16:1-7

1–7: In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel…

2 Chronicles 16:1–7 opens with “In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah…” and reaches “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 16 develops its own movement around king, Judah, LORD, Baasha, Israel, with particular weight carried by king, Baasha, Judah.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the…” It lands on “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

The narrator makes meaning through who acts first, who responds, what changes, and which consequences remain. A reported action is not automatically an approved action. Words such as king, Baasha, Judah, Israel, Ramah, Syria tie the complete block together. The central idea, “2 Chronicles 16 develops its own movement around king, Judah, LORD, Baasha, Israel,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Asa, Baasha, Judah, Israel, Ramah, Syria. Its number language includes six. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 5: “And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: king, Baasha, Judah, Israel, Ramah, Syria

Verse-by-verse path

  1. 2 Chronicles 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…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  2. 2 Chronicles 16:2

    “Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent…” Naming Asa and Ben keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  3. 2 Chronicles 16:3

    “There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver…” Naming Baasha and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. 2 Chronicles 16:4

    “And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they…” Naming Abel and Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. 2 Chronicles 16:5

    “And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

  6. 2 Chronicles 16:6

    “Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha…” Naming Asa and Baasha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  7. 2 Chronicles 16:7

    “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of…” Naming Syria and Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

2 Chronicles 16:1-7

King James Version

1In 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.

2Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

3There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

4And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and 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.

5And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

6Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

7And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

2 Chronicles 16:8-14

8–14: Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many…

2 Chronicles 16:8–14 opens with “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet…” and reaches “And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 16 develops its own movement around king, Judah, LORD, Baasha, Israel, with particular weight carried by LORD, disease, reign.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen…” By verse 11, the text has turned to “And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings…” It lands on “And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 question, 1 stated contrast, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

The narrator makes meaning through who acts first, who responds, what changes, and which consequences remain. A reported action is not automatically an approved action. Words such as LORD, disease, reign, year, acts, apothecaries tie the complete block together. The central idea, “2 Chronicles 16 develops its own movement around king, Judah, LORD, Baasha, Israel,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Asa, David, Ethiopians, Herein, Israel, Judah. Its number language includes thirty, one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 10: “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: LORD, disease, reign, year, acts, apothecaries

Verse-by-verse path

  1. 2 Chronicles 16:8

    “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

  2. 2 Chronicles 16:9

    “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

  3. 2 Chronicles 16:10

    “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing…” Naming Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  4. 2 Chronicles 16:11

    “And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.” Naming Asa and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  5. 2 Chronicles 16:12

    “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  6. 2 Chronicles 16:13

    “And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  7. 2 Chronicles 16:14

    “And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

2 Chronicles 16:8-14

King James Version

8Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD , he delivered them into thine hand.

9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

11And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

12And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD , but to the physicians.

13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

14And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Track who acts, who speaks, who is affected, and what changes.
  2. Notice repeated promises, failures, rescues, and consequences.
  3. Do not assume the narrator approves every action that is reported.

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from 2 Chronicles 16?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of 2 Chronicles 16 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: 2 Chronicles 16 develops its own movement around king, Judah, LORD, Baasha, Israel?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?