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 intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
In the, &c. This chapter is complementary to 1 Kings 15:17-24 . six and thirtieth. The thirty-sixth year of the kingdom: i.e. from the disruption of the kingdom of Judah. This agrees with all the other dates and lengths of reigns. See App-50 and note on p. 57.
reign. See note on 2 Chronicles 15:19 .
came up against. There had been quiet between the two kingdoms as such (2 Chronicles 14:1 ; 2 Chronicles 15:19 ), though there had been border fighting (1 Kings 15:16 , 1 Kings 15:32 ).
let none go out. This shows that there was a tide of population streaming into Judah from Israel. See note on 1 Kings 2Ch 12:17 .
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 to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
treasures = treasuries.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
3.
There 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.
There is. Supply ellipsis ( App-6 ) by "Let there be".
4.
And 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.
store cities = the storehouses of the cities. Septuagint reads "the surrounding cities".
5.
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6.
Then 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.
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 Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
Hanani. Compare 1 Kings 16:1 , 1Ki 16:7 ; 1 Kings 19:2 ; 1 Kings 20:34 .
seer. Hebrew. ra ' ah . See note on 1 Chronicles 29:29 .
Because. Compare similar protests against resting on foreign alliances (Isaiah 30:1 ; Isaiah 31:1 ).
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
8.
Were 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.
Were not. ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
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 heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
the eyes of the LORD. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. Compare Proverbs 15:3 .Job 34:21 .Psalms 139:2 .Jeremiah 16:17 . Zechariah 4:10 .
perfect = whole, as in Deuteronomy 27:6 .
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 oppressed some of the people the same time.
wroth with the seer. One of the eleven rulers offended with God's servants. See note on Exodus 10:28 .
11.
And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
behold . . . lo. Figure of speech Asterismos.
12.
And 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.
sought not. Contrast Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:2 .Isaiah 38:2 , Isaiah 38:3 .)
physicians = healers. First occurrence of mention of them among the Hebrews. These belonged to the priestly tribe, with traditional knowledge, more or less superstitious. Compare Job 13:4 . In NT. we have Luke (Colossians 4:14 ).
13.
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
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 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.
sepulchres = a great sepulchre. Plural of majesty.
made for himself. Not infrequently done. Compare Matthew 27:60 . John 19:38-42 .
sweet odours and divers kinds. Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ), emphasizing the many kinds of odours. Omit "of spices".
very great burning: i.e. of the odours previously mentioned, but not of incense, or of the sin offering. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:19 . Heb, saraph. App-43 .