2 Chronicles 16:7

¶ 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 not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.

And at that time {H6256} Hanani {H2607} the seer {H7200} came {H935} to Asa {H609} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, and said {H559} unto him, Because thou hast relied {H8172} on the king {H4428} of Syria {H758}, and not relied {H8172} on the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, therefore is the host {H2428} of the king {H4428} of Syria {H758} escaped {H4422} out of thine hand {H3027}.

It was around then that Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Y'hudah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Aram and didn't rely on ADONAI your God, the king of Aram's army has escaped from your power.

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand.

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.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:7 presents a pivotal moment in the reign of King Asa of Judah, as he receives a sharp rebuke from Hanani the seer. This verse highlights the crucial spiritual principle of relying solely on the Lord rather than human strength or alliances.

Historical and Cultural Context

King Asa had previously demonstrated strong faith and led Judah in significant religious reforms, even achieving a miraculous victory over a vast Ethiopian army by calling upon the Lord in 2 Chronicles 14. However, in this instance, facing a threat from Baasha, king of Israel, Asa chose to forge an alliance with Ben-hadad, the king of Syria. While this strategy successfully drove Baasha away from building Ramah (2 Chronicles 16:1-6), it demonstrated a failure to trust God completely. Hanani's arrival signifies God's direct intervention and disapproval of Asa's lack of faith, even when his human strategy seemed to yield immediate results.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Reliance on God vs. Human Means: The central message is a stark contrast between trusting the Lord and depending on earthly powers. Asa's decision to lean on the king of Syria, rather than the God who had previously delivered him, is directly confronted. This serves as a timeless reminder that while human wisdom and alliances may offer temporary solutions, true security and lasting victory come from divine reliance.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Hanani clearly states that because Asa did not rely on the Lord, the Syrian army "escaped out of thine hand." This implies a missed opportunity for a more decisive, God-given victory and foreshadows future troubles for Asa, indicating that actions born of unbelief have spiritual repercussions, even if they appear successful in the short term.
  • Divine Rebuke and Prophetic Ministry: God uses His prophets, like Hanani the seer (Hebrew: ro'eh), to speak truth to power and call His people back to faithfulness. This demonstrates God's active involvement in the lives of His people and His desire for their wholehearted devotion.

Linguistic Insights

The key word in this verse is "relied" (KJV), which comes from the Hebrew word sha'an (שָׁעַן). It means "to lean on," "to rest upon," or "to trust for support." When Hanani says Asa "hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God," he is emphasizing Asa's choice to lean his weight and trust on a human king rather than on the Almighty. This highlights a fundamental shift in Asa's spiritual posture from his earlier reign.

Practical Application

This verse challenges believers today to examine where their ultimate trust lies. Do we lean on our own abilities, financial security, political systems, or influential connections when facing challenges? Or do we, like Asa in his earlier, more faithful days, remember the name of the Lord our God? Even when our human strategies seem to bring success, 2 Chronicles 16:7 reminds us that God sees the heart and judges our reliance. True peace and enduring strength come from a complete trust in God's provision and power, as articulated in other passages like Jeremiah 17:5, which warns against trusting in man.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 16:1

    ¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

  • 2 Chronicles 19:2

    And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

  • Psalms 146:3

    Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.

  • Psalms 146:6

    Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein [is]: which keepeth truth for ever:

  • Isaiah 31:1

    ¶ Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

  • Ephesians 1:12

    That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

  • Ephesians 1:13

    In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
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