Day 124: 2 Chronicles 16-18

(The previous post covered the reign of Abijah and the beginning of Asa's reign.)

2 Chronicles 16

(This chapter would conclude Asa's reign.)

¹ In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

(Baasha, king of Israel, came against Judah. More civil war.)

² Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Jehovah and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad 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.

(Asa reminded Ben-hadad, king of Syria, about the league (covenant) between them and told him to break his league with Baasha.)

⁴ And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.

(Ben-hadad listened to Asa and sent armies against Israel.)

⁵ And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building 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 had builded; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
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 hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.

(Asa put his trust (faith) in the king of Syria instead of God. Notice, there was no mention of the Ark.)

⁸ Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand.
⁹ For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

(The Eyes of God were throughout the whole world looking for those whose heart was perfect toward Him. God was not focused on one nation to the exclusion of individuals. God the Father was constantly searching the entire earth in order to show Himself strong in response to those who had made their heart perfect towards God. God did not make peoples' hearts be perfect towards Him. People chose to put their heart towards God, and this made them the elect: the excellent ones that God selected in response to their choice.)

(In 2 Chronicles 15, it said Asa's heart was perfect all his days (15:17). The context (15:19) meant within the thirty-five years of his reign. Remember, this book took God's perspective of kings acting as kings. 2 Chronicles 16 started the recording of Asa's thirty-sixth year of reign. Because Asa's heart was perfect, there were no wars in his thirty-five years of reigning. However, Asa did foolishly (16:9) and because of his foolishness he would have wars from that point on.)

¹⁰ Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

(Asa put the seer/prophet (Hanani) in prison because what he said to Asa put Asa in a rage.)

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 in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians.

(In Asa's thiry-ninth year of reign, he was diseased and still did not seek God. Instead, he sought 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 hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers' art: and they made a very great burning for him.




2 Chronicles 17
¹ And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.

(Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, reigned over Judah.)

² And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
³ And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim,

(God was with Jehoshaphat because he walked as David walked. 1 Kings 22:43 stated that Jehoshaphat was a good king.)

⁴ but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.

(Jehoshaphat sought out God and His commandments and walked in them. He was a "doer" of the Word of God.)

⁵ Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.
⁶ And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Jehovah: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

(Jehoshaphat took high places and groves out of Judah.)

⁷ Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
⁸ and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.

(Jehoshaphat sent prophets and Levites and priests to all the cities of Judah. They were sent to teach the people of Judah. Basically, he took the most learned men and had them tour the country teaching the people the Word of God. Jehoshaphat gave the people full access to the Word of God.)

⁹ And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.
¹⁰ And the fear of Jehovah fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
¹¹ And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.

(Not only did other nations fear God because of Jehoshaphat’s plan to directly teach the people the Word of God, they brought him gifts.)

¹² And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.
¹³ And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
¹⁴ And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers' houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
¹⁵ and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand;
¹⁶ and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
¹⁷ And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
¹⁸ and next to him Jehozabad and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war.
¹⁹ These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

(Jehoshaphat, the teaching king, grew greatly. His army consisted of 1,160,000 men besides those who were in the fortified cities.)




2 Chronicles 18
¹ Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.

(Jehoshaphat joined affinity (to become a son-in-law) with Ahab. Remember, Ahab was the worst king to date of the ten tribes of Israel.)

² And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.
³ And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
⁴ And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.

(Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to go with him against Ramoth-gilead. However, the teaching king wanted to consult God, as God's Word had encouraged believers to do.)

⁵ Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.
⁶ But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him?

(Jehoshaphat wanted a prophet other than the prophets Ahab provided. Apparently, none of these prophets were in the all-star cast of teachers of the Word of God to the people.)

⁷ And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah: but I hate him; for he never prophesieth good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

(Ahab told him of Micaiah. However, Ahab hated Micaiah because his prophecies were always evil unto Ahab. Micaiah was mentioned in the group of prophets Jehoshaphat sent on the teaching tour.)

⁸ Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
⁹ Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
¹⁰ And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed.
¹¹ And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.

(All the prophets told Ahab to attack.)

¹² And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
¹³ And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what my God saith, that will I speak.

(Micaiah was told that everyone was telling Ahab to attack because Ahab would be successful. Micaiah stated he would speak what God said…)

¹⁴ And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.
¹⁵ And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?

(Micaiah gave the same prophecy as the other prophets. Ahab did not believe him.)

¹⁶ And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
¹⁷ And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?

(Micaiah told Ahab he would attack and lose.)

(Verses 18-22: Micaiah’s vision, also covered in 1 Kings 22:19-23.)

¹⁸ And Micaiah said, Therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
¹⁹ And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
²⁰ And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith?
²¹ And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.

(We covered this in 1 Kings 22: God wanted to entice Ahab to his death. However, God, Himself, could not make this happen. That would be unjust. If God was able to initiate His Will on people, not only would He have been able to cause Ahab to go to battle, God would be able to make everyone worship Him.

Spirits are different than souls. In the Book of Job, Satan attended a meeting between God and His angels. It looked as if an unclean lying spirit offered to deceive Ahab. This spirit would be able to state a plan within its nature and not be able to state a will for itself. It would need God to tell it to go. God told it to go.

Notice also, this still did not mean that Ahab had no choice to be deceived. It was still Ahab's choice to be deceived: to choose to believe not the truth and to pleasure in unrighteousness. Finally, if anyone thinks this story contradicted Biblical Doctrine, take a look at 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 -
"¹¹ And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
¹² that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.")

²² Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.

(Micaiah was warning Ahab that God had spoken evil against him. God would destroy Ahab. Micaiah was doing his job and helping Ahab.)

²³ Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee?
²⁴ And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
²⁵ And the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
²⁶ and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
²⁷ And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you.

(Micaiah’s "fleece" was whether or not Ahab came back in peace.)

²⁸ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
²⁹ And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.

(Ahab decided he would outsmart God by wearing a disguise...)

³⁰ Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
³¹ And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Jehovah helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
³² And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
³³ And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.

(An arrow struck Ahab between the joints of his armor, probably a coat of mail.)

³⁴ And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.

(Ahab was wounded and died, just like God stated would happen through Micaiah.)

(This post covered the end of Asa's reign and the beginning of Jehoshaphat's reign.)

Day 125