2 Chronicles 16

2 Chronicles 16:1

Ch. 2 Chronicles 16:1-6 (= 1 Kings 15:17-22). Asa asks help of Ben-hadad

1. the six and thirtieth year] According to 1 Kings 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 2 Chronicles 15:19 we should read, in the five-and-thirtieth, that is, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 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.).

2 Chronicles 16:2

2. silver and gold] In 1 Kin., “all the silver and the gold that were left.” Ben-hadad] At least three kings of Syria bore this name, the two others being severally (1) a contemporary of Ahab (1 Kings 20:1 ff.), (2) a contemporary of Jehoash the grandson of Jehu, 2 Kings 13:25. that dwelt at Damascus] The epithet distinguishes the king of Damascus from other kings of Syria, e.g. from the king of Hamath. Damascus] Heb. “Darmesek”; see note on 1 Chronicles 18:5.

2 Chronicles 16:4

4. and they smote] The places smitten were all in the extreme north of Israel. Ijon] The city cannot be identified, but the name is preserved in Merj ‘Iyûn, a table-land north of the Jordan valley. Bädeker, pp. 296, 7. Abel-maim] In 1 Kin., “Abel-beth-maacah”; cp. 2 Samuel 20:14-15. No doubt the two names designate one place. all the store cities] In 1 Kin., “all Cinneroth” (i.e. the district west of the Sea of Galilee). As this was a very fruitful district, the “store cities,” of the Chronicler may be only another name for it.

2 Chronicles 16:5

5. and let his work cease] In 1 Kin. and dwelt in Tirzah (Heb.), and returned to Tirzah (LXX.). Baasha (like Jeroboam; 1 Kings 14:17) fixed his seat of government at Tirzah in the centre of the Northern Kingdom in order to be able to watch Syria as well as Judah. The Chronicler takes no interest in the home of Baasha.

2 Chronicles 16:6

6. took all Judah] In 1 Kin. summoned all Judah (so translate); none was exempted. was a building] R.V. had builded. Geba and Mizpah] The names signify, “the hill and the watch-tower.” The two cities were on the northern border of Benjamin. For Mizpah see Jeremiah 41:1-9.

2 Chronicles 16:7-10

7–10 (not in 1 Kin.). The Intervention of Hanani The Chronicler stands alone both in recording the condemnation of Asa in this passage and in himself condemning him in 2 Chronicles 16:12. In 1 Kin. no blame is passed on Asa.

2 Chronicles 16:8

8. and the Lubims] The Lubim are not mentioned in 2 Chronicles 14:9-13, but as they were auxiliaries of the Egyptians (2 Chronicles 12:3) it is quite probable that they represent the help given by Egypt to the Cushites as they passed the Egyptian border on their way to invade Judah. Cp. note on 2 Chronicles 14:9 (three hundred chariots). with very many etc.] R.V. with chariots and horsemen exceeding many. See note on 2 Chronicles 14:9.

2 Chronicles 16:9

9. run to and fro] Zechariah 4:10. therefore from henceforth] R.V. for from henceforth.

2 Chronicles 16:10

10. in a prison house] Render, in the stocks (lit. in the house of the stocks). Jeremiah 20:2; Jeremiah 29:26 (R.V.). oppressed] Lit. brake in pieces, an expression which when applied to things would mean, made spoil of, when applied to persons treated outrageously, tortured, ἐλυμήνατο LXX.

2 Chronicles 16:11

11–14 (= 1 Kings 15:23-24). The Epilogue of Asa’s Reign 11. of Judah and Israel] In 1 Kin. the appeal is to “the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah.”

2 Chronicles 16:12

12. until his disease was exceeding great] R.V. his disease was exceeding great. he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians] Physicians (Heb. rôph’îm) are condemned by implication here, no doubt as using incantations and adjurations. Contrast Ecclus. (Ben Sira) Sir 38:9-15, especially Sir 38:15 (Heb. text). He that sinneth against his Maker, will behave himself proudly against a physician.

2 Chronicles 16:13

13. in the one and fortieth year] Cp. 1 Kings 15:10.

2 Chronicles 16:14

14. in his own sepulchres] In 1 Kin. with his fathers. which he had made for himself] R.V. which he had hewn out for himself. This clause is absent from 1 Kin. divers kinds of spices] Mark 16:1; John 12:3; John 12:7; John 19:39-40. a very great burning] Cp. 2 Chronicles 21:19. What is here meant is not cremation of the body, but only a burning of spices; Jeremiah 34:5.