2Ch 16:2-3 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter we have the sad end of the history of Asa. After having shown great faith, Asa fails in a new trial. It starts with the building of Ramah by Baasha king of Israel ( ). Ramah must become a dividing city between the brother peoples. Baasha, the king of the ten tribes realm, wants to prevent his subjects from defecting to the realm of Asa. He is the picture of the nominal Christian who wants to stifle any activity aimed at serving God because through such activities he loses his own authority and influence. Asa does not seek the LORD’s face on this matter, but seeks his support from Ben-hadad, the king of Aram or Syria ( ). He buys this support and gets the money for it from the treasuries of the LORD’s house. With this, he destroys at one stroke his own dedication ( ) and the blessing obtained from the LORD ( ). His tactics seem to be successful. Ben-hadad now turns against Israel and takes possession of cities there ( ), which subsequently leads to Baasha ceasing its building activities ( ). Asa conquers territory and uses Baasha’s materials to strengthen his own cities ( ). But the treasures which he has taken from the house of the LORD and has given away, he does not get back! Thus, things of the world may enter the church and members of the church may see it as a proof of blessing. However, spiritual wealth is lost in these activities. The beginning of sin is like flowing water in through a hole in the dike: as the water flows through the hole, the hole gets bigger and the flow gets stronger. We see that with Asa in the following verses. Asa rejects the prophet who comes to him, and he rejects those who agree with the prophet ( ). Finally, in his illness he doesn’t seek the LORD, but the physicians ( ). In the last mention of King Asa in the Old Testament ( ), we read what was the beginning of his deviation. We read there about a cistern “it was the one that King Asa had made on account of Baasha, king of Israel”. Other translations state that he made this cistern or pit “for fear of Baasha king of Israel” (the English Darby translation and the German Elberfelder translation). Asa made a kind of shelter because he is afraid of Baasha. “Fear of man lays a trap” ( ) and Asa runs into this trap.

‏ 2 Chronicles 16:2-3

Asa Asks for Help From the King of Syria

In this chapter we have the sad end of the history of Asa. After having shown great faith, Asa fails in a new trial. It starts with the building of Ramah by Baasha king of Israel (2Chr 16:1). Ramah must become a dividing city between the brother peoples. Baasha, the king of the ten tribes realm, wants to prevent his subjects from defecting to the realm of Asa. He is the picture of the nominal Christian who wants to stifle any activity aimed at serving God because through such activities he loses his own authority and influence.

Asa does not seek the LORD’s face on this matter, but seeks his support from Ben-hadad, the king of Aram or Syria (2Chr 16:2-3). He buys this support and gets the money for it from the treasuries of the LORD’s house. With this, he destroys at one stroke his own dedication (2Chr 15:18) and the blessing obtained from the LORD (2Chr 14:13-14).

His tactics seem to be successful. Ben-hadad now turns against Israel and takes possession of cities there (2Chr 16:4), which subsequently leads to Baasha ceasing its building activities (2Chr 16:5). Asa conquers territory and uses Baasha’s materials to strengthen his own cities (2Chr 16:6). But the treasures which he has taken from the house of the LORD and has given away, he does not get back!

Thus, things of the world may enter the church and members of the church may see it as a proof of blessing. However, spiritual wealth is lost in these activities. The beginning of sin is like flowing water in through a hole in the dike: as the water flows through the hole, the hole gets bigger and the flow gets stronger. We see that with Asa in the following verses. Asa rejects the prophet who comes to him, and he rejects those who agree with the prophet (2Chr 16:10). Finally, in his illness he doesn’t seek the LORD, but the physicians (2Chr 16:12).

In the last mention of King Asa in the Old Testament (Jer 41:9), we read what was the beginning of his deviation. We read there about a cistern “it was the one that King Asa had made on account of Baasha, king of Israel”. Other translations state that he made this cistern or pit “for fear of Baasha king of Israel” (the English Darby translation and the German Elberfelder translation). Asa made a kind of shelter because he is afraid of Baasha. “Fear of man lays a trap” (Pro 29:25) and Asa runs into this trap.