Explore the Bible Online

2 Chronicles 16:7-10

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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 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.

2 Chronicles 16:7-10 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 16:7

Theological / Devotional

Hanani the seer. The record of vs. 7-10 is not found in Kings. Nothing beyond what is here told is known of Hanani, unless he was the father of Jehu, the seer who prophesied against Baasha (1 Kings 16:1-4, 7) and Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 19:2).

Because thou hast relied. This reliance on a heathen king displayed Asa’s lack of faith in God. Hanani’s rebuke of Asa is in line with the messages of other prophets of God (see Isa. 30:1, 2, 7, 15-17; 31:1,3; Jer. 17:5; Hosea 5:13 ; 7:11; 12:1).

Escaped. Although Asa had hired Benhadad as an ally, Syria was still an enemy of Judah rather than a friend. No doubt Asa had been fearful that Benhadad would assist the Israelites in their measures against Judah, and in this he was unquestionably correct. By his politic act he had turned away the king of Israel, but by faith in God he might have won a victory over the combined forces of Israel and Syria. It was not the Lord’s purpose that His people should be at the mercy of their enemies, and it was only when they turned against the Lord or displayed lack of confidence in Him that they suffered defeat. If the faith and courage of Asa had not failed on this occasion, his kingdom might have been greatly enlarged and the name of the Lord magnified among the nations of earth.

By SdaBc