2 Chronicles 16:4

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.

And Benhadad {H1130} hearkened {H8085} unto king {H4428} Asa {H609}, and sent {H7971} the captains {H8269} of his armies {H2428} against the cities {H5892} of Israel {H3478}; and they smote {H5221} Ijon {H5859}, and Dan {H1835}, and Abelmaim {H66}, and all the store {H4543} cities {H5892} of Naphtali {H5321}.

Ben-Hadad did as King Asa had asked - he sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Isra'el, attacking 'Iyon, Dan, Avel-Mayim and all the storage-cities of Naftali.

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.

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.

Context

This verse describes a pivotal moment in the reign of King Asa of Judah. After years of walking faithfully with God and experiencing divine deliverance (2 Chronicles 14:11), Asa faced a new threat from Baasha, King of Israel, who was fortifying Ramah to restrict movement into and out of Judah (2 Chronicles 16:1). Instead of seeking God's help, Asa made a strategic but faithless decision: he took silver and gold from the temple treasury and sent it as a bribe to Benhadad, King of Syria, urging him to break his treaty with Baasha and attack Israel. Verse 4 details Benhadad's successful execution of this plan, launching a devastating campaign against northern Israelite cities, which ultimately forced Baasha to abandon his work at Ramah.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of Misplaced Trust: Asa's decision to rely on a foreign power (Syria) rather than on God, despite his previous experiences of divine intervention, highlights the danger of wavering faith. Even a seemingly effective human solution can carry spiritual ramifications.
  • Geopolitical Maneuvering and Warfare: The verse vividly portrays ancient Near Eastern political realities, where alliances were fluid and military force was a primary tool. The specific cities mentioned (Ijon, Dan, Abelmaim, and the store cities of Naphtali) were strategically important locations in northern Israel, emphasizing the scale and impact of Benhadad's assault.
  • Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Choices: While Asa's choice was a spiritual failure, God still worked through these events to achieve a temporary relief for Judah, even if it came at a cost to Israel and led to a later rebuke for Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "hearkened unto" comes from the Hebrew word shama' (שָׁמַע), which means "to hear," but often implies "to obey," "to listen attentively," or "to consent." In this context, it signifies Benhadad's positive response and agreement to Asa's proposal. The word "smote" (Hebrew: nakah, נָכָה) indicates a decisive and often violent military strike, conveying the destructive nature of the Syrian attack on the Israelite cities.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that even faithful individuals can stumble when faced with pressure. Asa's initial success in trusting God diminished in his later years, leading him to seek worldly solutions. For believers today, the lesson is clear: our first recourse in times of trouble should always be to trust in the Lord with all our heart, rather than relying on our own understanding, resources, or human alliances. While practical wisdom and strategy are important, they should always be submitted to divine guidance. True security and lasting peace come from God alone, not from political maneuvering or military might.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Chronicles 17:12

    And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.

  • 1 Kings 9:19

    And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

  • Judges 18:28

    And [there was] no deliverer, because it [was] far from Zidon, and they had no business with [any] man; and it was in the valley that [lieth] by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

  • Judges 18:29

    And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city [was] Laish at the first.

  • Judges 20:1

    ¶ Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

  • 1 Kings 15:20

    So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

  • Exodus 1:11

    Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

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