2 Chronicles 16:7

7 At that time the prophet Hanani went to King Asa and said, "Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you.

2 Chronicles 16:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:7

And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah,
&c.] 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.

2 Chronicles 16:7 In-Context

5 When King Baasha heard what was happening, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the work.

6 Then King Asa gathered men from throughout Judah and had them carry off the stones and timbers that Baasha had been using at Ramah, and they used them to fortify the cities of Geba and Mizpah.

7 At that time the prophet Hanani went to King Asa and said, "Because you relied on the king of Syria instead of relying on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Israel has escaped from you.

8 Didn't the Ethiopians and the Libyans have large armies with many chariots and cavalry troops? But because you relied on the Lord, he gave you victory over them.

9 The Lord keeps close watch over the whole world, to give strength to those whose hearts are loyal to him. You have acted foolishly, and so from now on you will always be at war."

Footnotes

• [a]. [One ancient translation] Israel; [Hebrew] Syria.