Asa took temple treasures to buy the loyalty of Ben-Hadad 2
Hanani the prophet brought the Lord's word about relying on humans 7
Asa died of infections 12
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¶ 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.
.2 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, 3 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. |
Verses
1-6 parallel 1ki1517-22.
1 - Six and thirtieth year This would have been the 36th year of the kingdom of Israel. 1 - Ramah Probably the Ramah of Benjamin about 5 miles north of Jerusalem. 1 - Let none go out The idea was to prevent people of Israel from going to the feasts at Jerusalem. |
| 4 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.
5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. .6 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. |
6 - Mizpah See Jerusalem area map, NW. |
| .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. |
7 - Hanani the seer The message had also come from other prophets. je1705, ho0513, and more. |
| Praying
for understanding "Among
all nations, kindreds, and tongues, He sees men and women who are praying
for light and knowledge. Their souls are unsatisfied; long have they fed
on ashes. See Isaiah 44:20. The enemy of all righteousness has turned them
aside, and they grope as blind men. But they are honest in heart and desire
to learn a better way. Although in the depths of heathenism, with no knowledge
of the written law of God nor of His Son Jesus, they have revealed in manifold
ways the working of a divine power on mind and character.
"At times those who have no knowledge of God aside from that which they have received under the operations of divine grace have been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. The Holy Spirit is implanting the grace of Christ in the heart of many a noble seeker after truth, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his former education. The "Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this Light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God. The prophet Micah said: "When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. . . . He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness." Micah 7:8, 9. (Prophets and Kings, pp. 376, 377). |
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| 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. | Oppression would come at other times from those claiming to be God's leaders da0725. |
| 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. |
12 - Asa ... thirty and ninth year. According to the context he was very sick during the last two years of his life. He was also adamantly against help from God. |
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