16 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.

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 Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

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.

And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

17 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.

And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

13 And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.

14 And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.

15 And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

16 And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.

17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.

18 And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.

19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.

16 2 Asa for fear of Baasha king of Israel, maketh a covenant with Ben-Hadad king of Aram. 7 He is reproved by the Prophet. 10 Whom he putteth in prison. 12 He putteth his trust in the Physicians. 13 His death.

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa came [a](A)Baasha king of Israel up against Judah, and built [b]Ramah, to let none pass out or go in to Asa king of Judah.

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 Aram that dwelt at [c]Damascus, saying,

There is a covenant between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold: come, [d]break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

And Ben-Hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of the army which he had, against the cities of Israel. And they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

And when Baasha heard it, he left building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

Then Asa the king took all Judah, and carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha did build, and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

¶ And at that same time Hanani the [e]Seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast rested upon the king of Aram, and not rested in the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram escaped out of thine hand.

(B)The Ethiopians and the Lubim, were they not a great host with chariots and horsemen, exceedingly many? yet because thou didst rest upon the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.

For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, to show himself strong with them that are of perfect heart toward him: thou hast then done foolishly in this: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10 Then Asa was wroth with the Seer, and put him into a [f]prison: for he was [g]displeased with him, because of this thing. And Asa oppressed certain of the people at the same time.

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

12 ¶ And Asa in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign was [h](C)diseased in his feet, and his disease was [i][j]extreme: yet he sought not the Lord in his disease, but to the [k]Physicians.

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

14 And they buried him in one of his sepulchers, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed, which they had filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices made by the art of the Apothecary: and they burnt odors for him with an exceeding great fire.

17 5 Jehoshaphat trusting in the Lord, prospereth in riches and honor. 6 He abolisheth idolatry, 7 and causeth the people to be taught. 11 He receiveth tribute of strangers. 13 His munitions, and men of war.

And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and prevailed against Israel.

And he put garrisons in all the strong cities of Judah, and set bands in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.

And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the [l]first ways of his father David, and sought not [m]Baalim,

But sought the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandment, and not after the [n]trade of Israel.

Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought presents to Jehoshaphat, so that he had of riches and honor in abundance.

And he [o]lifted up his heart unto the ways of the Lord, and he took away moreover the high places and the groves out of Judah.

¶ And in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Michaiah, that they should [p]teach in the cities of Judah,

And with them Levites, Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites, and with them Elishama and Jehoram, Priests.

And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the Law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.

10 And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, and they [q]fought not against Jehoshaphat.

11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute silver, and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.

12 So Jehoshaphat prospered and grew up on high, and he built in Judah palaces and cities of store.

13 And he had great works in the cities of Judah, and men of war, and valiant men in Jerusalem.

14 And these are the numbers of them after the house of their fathers, In Judah were captains of thousands, Adnah the captain, and [r]with him of valiant men three hundred thousand.

15 And [s]at his hand Jehohanan a captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.

16 And at his hand Amasiah the son of Zichri, [t]which willingly offered himself unto the Lord, and with him two hundred thousand valiant men.

17 And of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant man, and with him armed men with bow and shield, two hundred thousand.

18 And at his hand Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand armed to the war.

19 These [u]waited on the king, besides those which the king put in the strong cities throughout all Judah.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 16:1 Who reigned after Nadab the son of Jeroboam.
  2. 2 Chronicles 16:1 He fortified it with walls and ditches: it was a city in Benjamin near to Gibeon.
  3. 2 Chronicles 16:2 Or, Darmesek.
  4. 2 Chronicles 16:3 He thought to repulse his adversary by an unlawful means, that is, by seeking help of infidels, as they that seek the Turks’ amity, thinking thereby to make themselves more strong.
  5. 2 Chronicles 16:7 Or, Prophet.
  6. 2 Chronicles 16:10 Hebrew, prison house.
  7. 2 Chronicles 16:10 Thus instead of turning to God by repentance, he disdained the admonition of the Prophet, and punished him, as the wicked do when they be told of their faults.
  8. 2 Chronicles 16:12 Or, gouty, or swollen.
  9. 2 Chronicles 16:12 Or, to the top of his head.
  10. 2 Chronicles 16:12 God plagued his rebellion, and hereby declareth that it is nothing to begin well, except we so continue to the end, that is, zealous of God’s glory, and put our whole trust in him.
  11. 2 Chronicles 16:12 He showeth that it is in vain to seek to the Physicians, except we first seek to God to purge our sins, which are the chief cause of all our diseases, and after use the help of the Physician, as a means by whom God worketh.
  12. 2 Chronicles 17:3 That is, his virtues: meaning before he had committed with Bathsheba, and against Uriah.
  13. 2 Chronicles 17:3 Sought not help at strange Gods.
  14. 2 Chronicles 17:4 Hebrew, work.
  15. 2 Chronicles 17:6 He gave himself wholly to serve the Lord.
  16. 2 Chronicles 17:7 He knew it was in vain to profess religion, except such were appointed which could instruct the people in the same, and had authority to put away all idolatry.
  17. 2 Chronicles 17:10 Thus God prospereth all such that with a pure heart seek his glory, and keepeth their enemies in fear, that they cannot be able to execute their rage against them.
  18. 2 Chronicles 17:14 Hebrew, in his hand.
  19. 2 Chronicles 17:15 Or, next to him.
  20. 2 Chronicles 17:16 Meaning, which was a Nazirite, Num. 6.
  21. 2 Chronicles 17:19 That is, they were as his ordinary guard.