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| 1 In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah,–that he might let none come out or go in, unto Asa king of Judah. |
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| 2 So Asa brought forth silver and gold, out of the treasuries of the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king,–and sent unto Ben-hadad, king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying: |
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| 3 [Let there be] a covenant, between me and thee, as between my father and thy father.–Lo! I have sent thee silver and gold, go break thy covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may go up from me. |
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| 4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the chieftains of the forces which he had, against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon and Dan, and Abel-maim,–and all the storehouses of the cities of Naphtali. |
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| 5 And it cams to pass, when Baasha heard it, he left off building Ramah,–and let his work cease. |
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| 6 And, Asa the king, took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timbers thereof, which Baasha had used in building,–and he built therewith, Geba and Mizpah. |
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| 7 And, at that time, came Hanani the seer, unto Asa the king of Judah,–and said unto him, Because thou hast leaned upon the king of Syria, and hast not leaned upon Yahweh thy God, for this cause, hath the force of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand. |
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| 8 Were not, the Ethiopians and the Lybians, a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst lean upon Yahweh, he delivered them into thy hand. |
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| 9 For, as touching Yahweh, [seeing that], his eyes, are ever running to and fro throughout all the earth, to shew himself strong with them who are perfect toward himself, thou hast made thyself foolish over this,–for, from henceforth, there shall be with thee–wars. |
Eyes of the LORD – The Lord's influence, his power of knowing, whatever the means. R5634:2
His divine wisdom. SM623:1
Let your child feel that your eye and God's is ever upon him, just as we feel that God's eye is upon us. R1097:5*
The whole earth – This does not mean that God personally beholds every individual act of every person on earth, but that he takes cognizance of matters throughout the world by means of his power, his agencies. R5634:2
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| 10 Then was Asa angry with the seer, and put him in the house of the stocks, for he was in a rage with him, over this,–and Asa oppressed some of the people, at that time. |
Put him in a prison – The statement that his heart was right before God does not signify that he was always right. R2364:3
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| 11 But lo! the story of Asa, first and last, there it is, written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. |
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| 12 And Asa became diseased–in the thirty-ninth year of his reign–in his feet, exceedingly severe, was his disease,–yet, even in his disease, he sought not Yahweh, but unto physicians. |
Diseased in his feet – His sickness was a punishment for his sin according to the Israelitish covenant with God. R2029:2
God has not promised to keep spiritual Israel free from sickness, pain and trouble. R2364:5
Not to the LORD – Who had entered into covenant relationship with the Jews to bless them physically if faithful to him. R2364:4
His heart should have repented and turned toward God, but instead he turned to the physicians. R2029:2
To the physicians – Enchanters, magicians, black-art doctors using Satanic powers. R2364:5
There is no intimation here that it would be wrong to make use of bona-fide medical skill and aid today. R2364:5
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| 13 And Asa slept with his fathers,–yea he died in the forty-first year of his reign; |
One and fortieth year – Link No.29 in the chain of Bible chronology. B50; R1980:4
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| 14 and they buried him in his own stately sepulchre, which he had hewn for himself in the city of David, and laid him on a couch which was full of sweet spices–yea of various kinds, made by the perfumer's art,–and they burned for him with an exceeding great burning. |
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