📖 2 Chronicles — Chapter 16 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Chronicles 16:1 RIn 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.
2 Chronicles 16:2 Then Asa Rbrought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at TDamascus, saying,
2 Chronicles 16:3 There is Ra 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.
2 Chronicles 16:4 And Benhadad Rhearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of This armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
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.
2 Chronicles 16:6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and Rthey carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
2 Chronicles 16:7 And at that time RHanani 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 Were not Rthe Ethiopians and the Lubims Ta huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For Rthe eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, Tto 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.
2 Chronicles 16:10 Then Asa was Rwroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa Toppressed some of the people the same time.
2 Chronicles 16:11 And, behold, Rthe acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
2 Chronicles 16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was Rdiseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
2 Chronicles 16:13 And Asa Rslept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
2 Chronicles 16:14 And they buried him in Rhis own sepulchres, which he Thad 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.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 16:1–6 — Asa seeks a political solution
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Baasha blocks movement at Ramah, and Asa uses temple and royal treasures to secure Benhadad's help. The plan stops Baasha's work, and Asa reuses the materials. Its immediate effectiveness sets up the prophet's assessment: a strategy's success does not by itself prove that the king has relied faithfully on God.
Key Truth: Evaluate choices by faithfulness as well as immediate results.
Check What You Remember
1. Which city did Baasha fortify? (2 Chronicles 16:1)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:1 (KJV).
2. To which Syrian king did Asa send treasures? (2 Chronicles 16:2)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:2 (KJV).
3. Name one city Asa built with Ramah's materials. (2 Chronicles 16:6)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 16:7–10 — Correction rejected
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Hanani reminds Asa of earlier deliverance and rebukes his reliance on Syria rather than the LORD. He speaks of God's support for hearts devoted to him. Asa answers with anger, imprisonment, and oppression. Refusing correction turns the problem from a single decision into further wrongdoing against others.
Key Truth: Receive correction without punishing the messenger.
Check What You Remember
1. Which seer rebuked Asa? (2 Chronicles 16:7)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:7 (KJV).
2. On whom should Asa have relied? (2 Chronicles 16:7)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:7 (KJV).
3. Where did Asa put the seer? (2 Chronicles 16:10)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Chronicles 16:11–14 — The closing years
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Asa suffers severe disease and seeks physicians without seeking the LORD. The criticism concerns his failure to seek God, not a command to refuse medical care. His reign ends with burial and honor. The chapter's sober ending shows why lifelong dependence matters, even after earlier years of genuine reform.
Key Truth: Seek God through hardship while receiving appropriate care.
Check What You Remember
1. Which part of Asa's body was diseased? (2 Chronicles 16:12)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:12 (KJV).
2. Whom did he fail to seek in his disease? (2 Chronicles 16:12)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:12 (KJV).
3. In which year of his reign did he die? (2 Chronicles 16:13)
Find it in 2 Chronicles 16:13 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Proverbs 12:1 — The proverb connects love of knowledge with receiving correction.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How do you respond when a needed correction challenges a decision that seemed successful?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What strategic aim leads Asa to pay Benhadad?
2. How is Baasha’s unfinished work reused?
3. What contrast does Hanani draw between past and present reliance?
4. How does Asa’s response to rebuke affect both prophet and people?
5. How does the account of his illness continue the issue of misplaced reliance?
Notes
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