Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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 Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
7. Hanani the seer ] Hanani as a seer is known to us from this passage only; in 2Ch 19:2 and 2Ch 20:34 (also 1Ki 16:1) however Jehu the prophet is called son of Hanani.
therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped ] The prophet declares that if Asa had not detached Syria by his presents, he might have smitten Israel and Syria combined.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 2Ch 16:12. In 1 Kin. no blame is passed on Asa.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The rebuke of Hanani and his imprisonment by Asa, omitted by the writer of Kings, are among the most important of the additions to Asas history for which we are indebted to the author of Chronicles.
2Ch 16:7
Escaped out of thine hand – Hanani means, Hadst thou been faithful, and opposed in arms the joint host of Israel and Syria, instead of bribing the Syrian king to desert to thy side, the entire host would have been delivered into thy hand, as was Zerahs. But now it is escaped from thee. Thou hast lost a glorious opportunity.
2Ch 16:9
From henceforth thou shalt have wars – As peace had been the reward of Asas earlier faith 2Ch 14:5; 2Ch 15:5, so his want of faith was now to be punished by a period of war and disturbance.
2Ch 16:10
In a prison house – Or, in the stocks. Compare 1Ki 22:26-27.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Ch 16:7
Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord.
Asas want of faith
Sin like Asas has been the supreme apostasy of the Church in all her branches and through all her generations: Christ has been denied, not by lack of devotion, but by want of faith. Champions of the faith, reformers and guardians of the temple, like Asa, have been eager to attach to their holy cause the cruel prejudices of ignorance and folly, the greed and vindictiveness of selfish men. They have feared lest these potent forces should be arrayed amongst the enemies of the Church and her Master. It has even been suggested that national Churches and great national vices were so intimately allied that their supporters were content that they should stand or fall together. On the other hand, the advocates of reform have not been slow to appeal to popular jealousy and to aggravate the bitterness of social feuds. (W. H. Bennett, M.A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. Escaped out of thine hand.] It is difficult to know what is here intended. Perhaps the Divine providence had intended to give Asa a grand victory over the Syrians, who had always been the inveterate enemies of the Jews; but by this unnecessary and very improper alliance between Asa and Ben-hadad, this purpose of the Divine providence was prevented, and thus the Syrians escaped out of his hands.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And so reserved to be a scourge to thy kingdom and posterity hereafter; whereas if he had joined with Baasha against thee, thou shouldst have overthrown them both, and prevented all that mischief which that monarch will do one day to thy family.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7-10. Hanani the seer came to Asa .. . and saidHis object was to show the king his error informing his recent league with Ben-hadad. The prophet represented theappropriation of the temple treasures to purchase the services of theSyrian mercenaries, as indicating a distrust in God most blameablewith the king’s experience. He added, that in consequence of thiswant of faith, Asa had lost the opportunity of gaining a victory overthe united forces of Baasha and Ben-hadad, more splendid than thatobtained over the Ethiopians. Such a victory, by destroying theirarmies, would have deprived them of all power to molest him in thefuture; whereas by his foolish and worldly policy, so unworthy ofGod’s vicegerent, to misapply the temple treasures and corrupt thefidelity of an ally of the king of Israel, he had tempted thecupidity of the one, and increased the hostility of the other, andrendered himself liable to renewed troubles (1Ki15:32). This rebuke was pungent and, from its truth and justness,ought to have penetrated and afflicted the heart of such a man asAsa. But his pride was offended at the freedom taken by the honestreprover of royalty, and in a burst of passionate resentment, heordered Hanani to be thrown into prison.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah,…. Being sent by the Lord to reprove him:
and said unto him, because thou hast relied on the king of Syria; on the covenant he made with him, on the promises the Syrian king made to him upon receiving his money, and so trusted to an arm of flesh, and even an Heathen king:
and not relied on the Lord thy God; his promises, power, and providence, which he had reason to believe would have been engaged on his behalf, had he placed his confidence in him as he ought to have done: the Targum is,
“and not relied on the Word of the Lord thy God:”
therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand; which otherwise would have fallen into it, had he left him to continue in league with the king of Israel, and not solicited him to break it; for then he would have come with him against Asa, and the Lord would have delivered him to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The rebuke of the prophet Hanani, and Asa’s crime. – 2Ch 16:7. The prophet Hanani is met with only here. Jehu, the son of Hanani, who announced to Baasha the ruin of his house (1Ki 16:1), and who reappears under Jehoshaphat (2Ch 19:2), was without doubt his son. Hanani said to King Asa, “Because thou hast relied on the king of Aram, and not upon Jahve thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram escaped out of thy hand.” Berth. has correctly given the meaning thus: “that Asa, if he had relied upon God, would have conquered not only the host of Baasha, but also the host of the king of Damascus, if he had, as was to be feared, in accordance with his league with Baasha (2Ch 16:3), in common with Israel, made an attack upon the kingdom of Judah.” To confirm this statement, the prophet points to the victory over the great army of the Cushites, which Asa had won by his trust in God the Lord. With the Cushites Hanani names also , Libyans (cf. 2Ch 12:3), and besides , the war-chariots, also osla ,sto , horsemen, in order to portray the enemy rhetorically, while in the historical narrative only the immense number of warriors and the multitude of the chariots is spoken of.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Asa’s Death and Burial. | B. C. 914. |
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. 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. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show 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.
Here is, I. A plain and faithful reproof given to Asa by a prophet of the Lord, for making this league with Baasha. The reprover was Hanani the seer, the father of Jehu, another prophet, whom we read of 1Ki 16:1; 2Ch 19:2. We observed several things amiss in Asa’s treaty with Benhadad. But that which the prophet here charges upon him as the greatest fault he was guilty of in that matter is his relying on the king of Syria and not on the Lord his God, v. 7. He thought that, though God was on his side, this would not stand him in stead unless he had Benhadad on his side, that God either could not or would not help him, but he must take this indirect course to help himself. Note, God is much displeased when he is distrusted and when an arm of flesh is relied on more than his power and goodness. By putting our confidence in God we give honour to him, and therefore he thinks himself affronted if we give that honour to another. He plainly tells the king that herein he had done foolishly, v. 9. It is a foolish thing to lean on a broken reed, when we have the rock of ages to rely upon. To convince him of his folly he shows him,
1. That he acted against his experience, v. 8. He, of all men, had no reason to distrust God, who had found him such a present powerful helper, by whom he had been made to triumph over a threatening enemy, as his father before him, because he relied upon the Lord his God, (2Ch 13:18; 2Ch 14:11. “What!” said the prophet, “Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, enough to swallow up a kingdom? And yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand; and was not he sufficient to help thee against Baasha?” Note, The many experiences we have had of the goodness of God to us aggravate our distrust of him. Has he not helped us in six troubles? And have we any reason to suspect him in the seventh? But see how deceitful our hearts are! We trust in God when we have nothing else to trust to, when need drives us to him; but, when we have other things to stay on, we are apt to stay too much on them and to lean on our own understanding as long as that has any thing to offer; but a believing confidence will be in God only, when a smiling world courts it most.
2. That he acted against his knowledge of God and his providence, v. 9. Asa could not be ignorant that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the earth, strongly to hold with those (so it may be read) whose heart is perfect towards him; that is, (1.) That God governs the world in infinite wisdom, and the creatures, and all their actions, are continually under his eye. The eye of Providence is quick-sighted–it runs; it is intent–it runs to and fro; it reaches far–through the whole earth, no corner of which is from under it, not the most dark or distant; and his eye directs his hand, and the arm of his power; for he shows himself strong. Does Satan walk to and fro in the earth? Providence runs to and fro, is never out of the way, never to seek, never at a loss. (2.) That God governs the world for the good of his people, does all in pursuance of the counsels of his love concerning their salvation, all for Jacob his servant’s sake, and Israel his elect, Isa. xlv. 4. Christ is head over all things to his church, Eph. i. 22. (3.) That those whose hearts are upright with him may be sure of his protection and have all the reason in the world to depend upon it. He is able to protect them in the way of their duty (for wisdom and might are his), and he actually intends their protection. A practical disbelief of this is at the bottom of all our departures from God and double-dealing with him. Asa could not trust God and therefore made court to Benhadad.
3. That he acted against his interest. (1.) He had lost an opportunity of checking the growing greatness of the king of Syria, (v. 7): His host has escaped out of thy hand, which otherwise would have joined with Baasha’s and fallen with it. (2.) He had incurred God’s displeasure and henceforth must expect no peace, but the constant alarms of war, v. 9. Those that cannot find in their hearts to trust God forfeit his protection and throw themselves out of it.
II. Asa’s displeasure at this reproof. Though it came from God by one that was known to be his messenger, though the reproof was just and the reasoning fair, and all intended for his good, yet he was wroth with the seer for telling him of his folly; nay, he was in a rage with him, v. 10. Is this Asa? Is this he whose heart was perfect with the Lord all his days? Well, let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. A wise man, and yet in a rage! An Israelite, and yet in a rage with a prophet! A good man, and yet impatient of reproof, and that cannot bear to be told of his faults! Lord, what is man, when God leaves him to himself? Those that idolize their own conduct cannot bear contradiction; and those that indulge a peevish passionate temper may be transported by it into impieties as well as into indecencies, and will, some time or other, fly in the face of God himself. See what gall and wormwood this root of bitterness bore. 1. In his rage he committed the prophet to the jail, put him in a prison-house, as a malefactor, in the stocks (so some read it,) or into little-ease. God’s prophets meet with many that cannot bear reproof, but take it much amiss, yet they must do their duty. 2. Having proceeded thus far, he oppressed some of the people, probably such as owned the prophet in his sufferings, or were known to be his particular friends. He that abused his power for the persecuting of God’s prophet was left to himself further to abuse it for the crushing of his own subjects, whereby he weakened himself and lost his interest. Most persecutors have been tyrants.
III. His sickness. Two years before he died he was diseased in his feet (v. 12), afflicted with the gout in a high degree. He had put the prophet in the stocks, and now God put him in the stocks; so his punishment answered his sin. His disease was exceedingly great; it came to the height (so some); it flew up to his head (so others), and then it was mortal. This was his affliction; but his sin was that in his disease, instead of seeking to the Lord for relief, he sought to the physicians. His making use of physicians was his duty; but trusting to them, and expecting that from them which was to be had from God only, were his sin and folly. The help of creatures must always be used with an eye to the Creator, and in dependence upon him, who makes every creature that to us which it is, and without whom the most skilful and faithful are physicians of no value. Some think that these physicians were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, and were a sort of conjurers, to whom he applied as if there were not a God in Israel.
IV. His death and burial. His funeral had something of extraordinary solemnity in it, v. 14. They made a very magnificent burying for him. I am loth to think (as some do) that he himself ordered this funeral pomp, and that it was an instance of his vanity, that he would be buried like the Gentiles, and not after the way of the Jews. It is said indeed, He digged the sepulchre for himself, as one mindful of his grave; but I am willing to believe that this funeral pomp was rather an expression of the great respect his people retained for him, notwithstanding the failings and infirmities of his latter days. It was agreed to do him honour at his death. Note, The eminent piety and usefulness of good men ought to be remembered to their praise, though they have had their blemishes. Let their faults be buried in their graves, while their services are remembered over their graves. He that said, There is not a just man that doeth good and sinneth not, yet said also, The memory of the just is blessed; and let it be so.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
See note on 1Ki 15:23
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
HANANI THE SEER REBUKES ASA, AND IS IMPRISONED
(2Ch. 16:7-10).
(7) Hanani the seer.Ha-reh. (See on 1Sa. 9:9.) The use of this term seems to point to an ancient source of this narrative which is peculiar to the chronicler. Nothing beyond what is here told is known of Hanani. He was perhaps the father of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani, who prophesied against Baasha (1Ki. 16:1 sqq.) and rebuked Jehoshaphat (2Ch. 19:2).
Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria.Hananis words are in perfect accord with the teachings of the greater prophets, a fact which favours their authenticity. (Comp. Isa. 30:2; Isa. 30:7; Isa. 30:15 sqq., Isa. 31:1; Isa. 31:3; Jer. 17:5; Hos. 5:13; Hos. 7:11; Hos. 8:9; Hos. 12:1.)
Therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.Asa had doubtless been afraid that Benhadad would co-operate with Baasha his ally in hostilities against Judah, and therefore bribed the Syrian king at the expense of the Temple treasury (2Ch. 16:3). This politic act secured its object, but from the prophetic point of view such success was no better than loss and failure; for it had deprived Asa of an assured triumph over the combined forces of Israel and Syria. Not only the defeat of Baashas schemes, but victory over his formidable ally, would have been conceded to faith (comp. 2Ki. 13:14-19). The Syriac renders, Therefore shall the army of Adm (Aram) fly from thee. Then follows the curious addition: And they shall go, and become strong, they and the Hindoos [Hendewoye], and the kings that are with them, and they shall become armies and chariots and horsemen, a great multitude; and when thou shalt ask of the Lord God, He will deliver them into thy hands. It continues: Because the eyes of the Lord see in all the earth. And show yourselves strong, and let your heart be devoted to his fear, and understand ye all his wonders, because the Lord your God maketh war for you. And Asa was wroth against the Seer, and put him in the prison, because he told what he saw not, and stirred the heart of the people. So also the Arabic.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Hanani the seer See note on 1Ki 16:1. This prophet and his son Jehu (compare 1Ch 19:2) were noted for uttering oracles of rebuke and judgment. They boldly stood up before kings to admonish them of their sins, and to proclaim the threatened judgments of the Almighty.
Therefore is the host of Syria escaped out of thine hand Thus the prophet implies that had Asa assumed the defensive, and fought against Baasha and Ben-hadad, the Syrian host would, like the Egyptian under Zerah, have fallen into his hands.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Asa Reproved by Hanani
v. 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, v. 8. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, v. 10. Then Asa, v. 11. And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, v. 12. And Asa, in the thirty and ninth year of his reign, was diseased in his feet, v. 13. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign, v. 14. And they buried him in his own sepulchers, which he had made for himself in the City of David,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
What a precious thing it is in all masters, could they but be truly sensible of it, to have faithful servants. In the church of God how highly essential it is that the preachers should be so! What a lovely account of the divine prescience and knowledge is here given of our God. His eyes, not barely looking on, but running through the earth. And this, not to inform himself, but to convince his people, how near at hand he is to their deliverance. Blessed Jesus! grant that I may never lose sight of this precious truth. Surely, dear Lord, if thou art looking on, well may I be confident in thee and in thy strength. But what a melancholy thought it is when past experiences of the Lord’s goodness are not found sufficient with our unbelieving hearts to beget an hearty, firm, and unshaken reliance. What a beautiful contrast to this conduct of Asa was that of Samuel between Mizpeh and Shem, when he set up his Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. 1Sa 7:12 . And cannot you and I, Reader, set up our hitherto. And if our present Ebenezer depend upon it we shall never, except from the unbelief of our hearts, say with truth, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Isa 49:14 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 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 Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
Ver. 7. At that time Hanani. ] Father to Jehu the prophet. 1Ki 16:1
And not relied on the Lord.
Therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Hanani. Compare 1Ki 16:1, 1Ki 16:7; 1Ki 19:2; 1Ki 20:34.
seer. Hebrew. ra’ah. See note on 1Ch 29:29.
Because. Compare similar protests against resting on foreign alliances (Isa 30:1; Isa 31:1).
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 16:7-10
2Ch 16:7-10
GOD’S PROPHET REBUKED ASA; AND ASA WAS ANGRY
“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 hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand. For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect before him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.”
One thing that the Chronicler most certainly had in mind here was to show the colossal failure of the whole institution of the monarchy. Even a good king like Asa could not remain uncorrupted while wielding the scepter of unchallenged power. The constant pressure of the flattering sycophants that surround every ruler, and the constantly nourished and promoted conceit of any natural man have the power eventually to break down the strongest heart.
Also, it may have been his way of establishing the principle that all men are sinners. The Sinless One did not appear until the Christ was cradled in the manger at Bethlehem.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 16:7. Good men are subject to mistakes. Asa did not give the Lord his due consideration in the plan to draw off the king of the 10 tribes (see remarks at 2Ch 16:2-3). A prophet was sent to chastise Asa for his mistake, and to punish him with a military loss in that the Syrians were allowed to escape completely.
2Ch 16:8. The main point in this verse is the truth that great numbers do not count when opposed to the Lord, nor does the victory for the Lord depend on numbers.
2Ch 16:9. God sees everything in all places, and understands the full strength as well as the weaknesses of all. He is ready to help those who put their trust in him. The punishment that was threatened against Asa was not directly upon his body; it was to affect his condition of peace in the kingdom. The period of peace that he had been enjoying was to end and wars would come instead.
2Ch 16:10. Human nature manifests some strange traits at times. The seer or prophet of God was not responsible for the unpleasant message, yet Asa put him in prison for it. His rage did not stop at the prophet, but he oppressed or tortured some of the people at that time. Blind spite could have been the only motive for such conduct. We are not elated over the errors of this good man who was so nearly always righteous. The fact that God had the truth about it put into his Book for the information of man, is another proof that the Bible was not the production of human beings. They would have extolled the goodness of Asa, but suppressed his mistakes.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Hanani: 2Ch 19:2, 2Ch 20:34, 1Ki 16:1
Because: Psa 146:3-6, Isa 31:1, Isa 32:2, Jer 17:5, Jer 17:6, Eph 1:12, Eph 1:13
relied on: 2Ch 13:18, 2Ch 32:7, 2Ch 32:8, 2Ki 18:5, 1Ch 5:20
the host: 2Ch 16:3
Reciprocal: 1Sa 9:9 – a Seer 1Ki 15:11 – Asa 1Ki 22:43 – he turned 2Ki 20:14 – What said 2Ch 15:17 – the heart of Asa 2Ch 16:8 – because 2Ch 20:32 – departed not 2Ch 25:15 – a prophet 2Ch 26:18 – withstood Uzziah Psa 118:12 – in the name Psa 141:5 – the righteous Isa 22:11 – ye have Isa 36:7 – We trust Isa 39:3 – came Isaiah Hos 14:3 – Asshur Amo 7:14 – neither
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 16:7. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa, &c. Here follows, in addition to what is recorded concerning Asa in the first book of Kings, a remarkable history, which relates his great weakness in his declining years, and Gods displeasure on account of it. Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not on the Lord thy God It is a great weakness in our nature, which cannot be too much guarded against, to be ever prone to forego our confidence in God for human means; or to put a greater and more assured trust in them, than in the power, love, and faithfulness of God. Therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand And so reserved to be a scourge to thy kingdom and posterity: whereas, if the Syrians had continued their league with Baasha, and joined him against thee, thou shouldest have overthrown both them and Baasha, as thou didst the Ethiopians, and thereby have prevented all the mischiefs which the king of Syria will do to thy family.