2 Chronicles 16:8

Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

Were not the Ethiopians {H3569} and the Lubims {H3864} a huge {H7230} host {H2428}, with very {H3966} many {H7235} chariots {H7393} and horsemen {H6571}? yet, because thou didst rely {H8172} on the LORD {H3068}, he delivered {H5414} them into thine hand {H3027}.

The army of the Ethiopians and Luvim was huge, wasn't it? How many chariots and horsemen did they have? Yet because you relied on ADONAI, he handed them over to you.

Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.

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.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 16:8 (KJV)

This verse is part of a prophetic rebuke delivered by Hanani the seer to King Asa of Judah. Hanani challenges Asa for relying on Ben-hadad, king of Syria, for help against King Baasha of Israel, rather than trusting fully in the LORD. To underscore his point, Hanani reminds Asa of a past, much greater triumph that occurred precisely because Asa *did* rely on God.

Context

The immediate context of 2 Chronicles 16:8 is Hanani's confrontation with King Asa. The seer points to a previous, monumental victory recounted in 2 Chronicles 14. In that instance, Zerah the Ethiopian, leading an immense army of a million men and three hundred chariots (which included the Lubims, or Libyans, as allies), invaded Judah. This was an overwhelming force, seemingly insurmountable by human standards. Yet, Asa, in an act of profound faith, cried out to the LORD, and God granted Judah a decisive victory. Hanani uses this historical event to highlight Asa's spiritual inconsistency: he trusted God fully in the face of a terrifying threat, but later, against a lesser foe, he chose to rely on a human alliance.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance: The verse vividly portrays God's ability to save His people from impossible odds. The "huge host" of Ethiopians and Lubims, with their "very many chariots and horsemen," represented an enemy far superior in military might, yet they were utterly defeated by divine intervention.
  • Reliance on the LORD: The core message is the absolute necessity of trusting in God alone for salvation and success. Hanani emphasizes that the victory was granted "because thou didst rely on the LORD," underscoring that faith, not military strength, was the determining factor. This serves as a powerful demonstration of the principle that true strength comes from trusting in God, not human might.
  • Remembering God's Past Faithfulness: Hanani's words serve as a vital reminder for Asa, and for us, to recall God's past acts of deliverance. Remembering how God has intervened before can strengthen faith in present and future challenges.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "rely" (שָׁגַן - sha'an) implies leaning upon, resting upon, or being supported by. It denotes a complete dependence and trust. This is not a casual trust but a deep, unwavering reliance that fully commits one's fate to another. The phrase "delivered them into thine hand" signifies God's active role in granting the victory, effectively placing the enemy at Asa's mercy.

Practical Application

2 Chronicles 16:8 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It challenges us to examine where our trust truly lies when facing difficulties. Do we first turn to human resources, strategies, or alliances, or do we, like Asa did in his earlier triumph, fully rely on the LORD? This verse encourages us to:

  • Trust God in Overwhelming Situations: Just as God delivered Asa from a million-man army, He is capable of helping us through seemingly insurmountable problems, whether personal, financial, or spiritual.
  • Learn from Past Victories: Remember how God has intervened in your life or in the lives of others. These memories can bolster faith and remind us of His consistent faithfulness.
  • Beware of Wavering Faith: Asa's later lapse in faith, despite his powerful past experience, serves as a cautionary tale. We must continually cultivate a dependent relationship with God, choosing to rely on Him even when human alternatives seem more immediate or convenient.
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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 12:3

    With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people [were] without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.

  • 2 Chronicles 13:16

    And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.

  • 2 Chronicles 14:9

    ΒΆ And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

  • 2 Chronicles 14:12

    So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:7

    ΒΆ 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.

  • Psalms 37:39

    But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble.

  • Psalms 37:40

    And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
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