2 Chronicles 16:1-6

Why is a successful alliance not the final judgment on Asa’s decision?

Berean Standard Bible

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. 2 So Asa withdrew the silver and gold from the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent it with this message to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: 3 “Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.” 4 And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work. 6 Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.

What is the context?

Baasha fortifies Ramah to restrict movement into and out of Asa’s territory. Asa sends temple and palace treasure to Ben-hadad, asking him to break his treaty with Baasha.

Ben-hadad attacks northern cities, and Baasha stops building. Asa then uses Ramah’s materials to strengthen Geba and Mizpah.

The strategy achieves the immediate result Asa wants. The next prophetic message nevertheless questions where he has placed his trust, so immediate effectiveness is not the account’s complete measure of faithfulness.

How is this passage commonly understood?

1 Kings 15:16–22 gives the related alliance. Chronicles dates the attack to Asa’s thirty-sixth year, while 1 Kings 16:6–8 places Baasha’s death and his son’s accession by Asa’s twenty-sixth. Wesley proposes counting Chronicles’ years from the kingdom’s division. That is a proposed solution to a real chronological difficulty, not an explanation explicitly stated in the verse.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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