犹大与以色列争战

16 亚撒执政第三十六年,以色列王巴沙上来攻打犹大,修筑拉玛,企图隔断犹大王亚撒与外界的联系。 于是,亚撒收集耶和华殿里和王宫库房里的金银,派人送给住在大马士革的亚兰王便·哈达,说: “我们之间应立盟约,像我们的父亲之间立约一样,现在奉上金银为礼,请你取消与以色列王巴沙立的盟约。这样,他就会从我境内退兵。” 便·哈达接受了亚撒王的提议,派将领攻打以色列的城邑,攻占了以云、但、亚伯·玛音和拿弗他利所有的储货城。 巴沙闻讯,就停止修筑拉玛。 亚撒王率领全体犹大人,将巴沙修筑拉玛所用的石头和木材全部搬走,用来修建迦巴和米斯巴。

哈拿尼先见

那时,哈拿尼先见晋见犹大王亚撒说:“因为你不倚靠你的上帝耶和华,反而倚靠亚兰王,所以亚兰王的军队已经从你手中逃脱。 古实人与路比人不是一支强大的军队吗?他们的战车骑兵不是极多吗?然而,因为你倚靠耶和华,耶和华就把他们交在你手中。 耶和华的眼目遍察天下,彰显大能来扶助那些全心归向祂的人。你做了愚蠢的事!从此以后,你必遭遇战祸。” 10 亚撒听了就对先见发怒,把他囚禁在监狱里,同时又压迫一些民众。

亚撒逝世

11 亚撒其他的事自始至终都记在犹大和以色列的列王史上。 12 亚撒执政第三十九年患了严重的脚病。然而,他在病中却没有寻求耶和华的帮助,只寻求医生的帮助。 13 亚撒在他执政第四十一年去世,与他祖先同眠, 14 葬在大卫城他为自己凿的坟墓里。民众把他放在堆满精心调制的各种香料的床上,又点了一堆大火向他致哀。

16 2 Asa for fear of Baasha king of Israel, maketh a covenant with Ben-Hadad king of Aram. 7 He is reproved by the Prophet. 10 Whom he putteth in prison. 12 He putteth his trust in the Physicians. 13 His death.

In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa came [a](A)Baasha king of Israel up against Judah, and built [b]Ramah, to let none pass out or go in to Asa king of Judah.

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 Ben-Hadad king of Aram that dwelt at [c]Damascus, saying,

There is a covenant between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold: come, [d]break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

And Ben-Hadad hearkened unto King Asa, and sent the captains of the army which he had, against the cities of Israel. And they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

And when Baasha heard it, he left building of Ramah, and let his work cease.

Then Asa the king took all Judah, and carried away the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha did build, and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

¶ And at that same time Hanani the [e]Seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast rested upon the king of Aram, and not rested in the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram escaped out of thine hand.

(B)The Ethiopians and the Lubim, were they not a great host with chariots and horsemen, exceedingly many? yet because thou didst rest upon the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.

For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, to show himself strong with them that are of perfect heart toward him: thou hast then done foolishly in this: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

10 Then Asa was wroth with the Seer, and put him into a [f]prison: for he was [g]displeased with him, because of this thing. And Asa oppressed certain of the people at the same time.

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 nine and thirtieth year of his reign was [h](C)diseased in his feet, and his disease was [i][j]extreme: yet he sought not the Lord in his disease, but to the [k]Physicians.

13 So Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

14 And they buried him in one of his sepulchers, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed, which they had filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices made by the art of the Apothecary: and they burnt odors for him with an exceeding great fire.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 16:1 Who reigned after Nadab the son of Jeroboam.
  2. 2 Chronicles 16:1 He fortified it with walls and ditches: it was a city in Benjamin near to Gibeon.
  3. 2 Chronicles 16:2 Or, Darmesek.
  4. 2 Chronicles 16:3 He thought to repulse his adversary by an unlawful means, that is, by seeking help of infidels, as they that seek the Turks’ amity, thinking thereby to make themselves more strong.
  5. 2 Chronicles 16:7 Or, Prophet.
  6. 2 Chronicles 16:10 Hebrew, prison house.
  7. 2 Chronicles 16:10 Thus instead of turning to God by repentance, he disdained the admonition of the Prophet, and punished him, as the wicked do when they be told of their faults.
  8. 2 Chronicles 16:12 Or, gouty, or swollen.
  9. 2 Chronicles 16:12 Or, to the top of his head.
  10. 2 Chronicles 16:12 God plagued his rebellion, and hereby declareth that it is nothing to begin well, except we so continue to the end, that is, zealous of God’s glory, and put our whole trust in him.
  11. 2 Chronicles 16:12 He showeth that it is in vain to seek to the Physicians, except we first seek to God to purge our sins, which are the chief cause of all our diseases, and after use the help of the Physician, as a means by whom God worketh.