2 Chronicles Chapter 16
Showing all 14 verses for 2 Chronicles Chapter 16.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. "
"In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and began fortifying Ramah, to cut off all movement in and out to King Asa of Judah."
Long stretches of peace don't mean you're exempt from future tests - stay grounded in what got you through before, because it may be needed again. Don't let comfort erode the trust that carried you through harder times.
"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 Benhadad king of Syria, that at Damascus, saying, "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasuries of the LORD's temple and his own palace, and sent it to Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, with this message:"
Notice when you start reaching for control and manipulation instead of trust - it's often a quiet sign that fear has taken the driver's seat. I'd rather you come to me first, even in a crisis, than default to solving everything alone.
"There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. "
""There's an alliance between me and you, just as there was between my father and your father. Look, I've sent you silver and gold - now go break your alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so he'll withdraw from me.""
Solving your problems by pulling someone else into unnecessary conflict, even indirectly, isn't the same as resolving them rightly. Ask whether your solution to a problem is creating collateral damage elsewhere just to get you out of a tight spot.
"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. "
"Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent his army commanders against the cities of Israel, striking Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali."
A plan working doesn't automatically mean it was the right plan - sometimes you can get the short-term result you wanted through a compromise that costs you something deeper. Judge your choices by more than whether they worked.
"And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. "
"When Baasha heard about it, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned the project."
Getting the outcome you wanted doesn't settle whether you went about it the right way - it's worth asking both questions, not just the first one. Success can quietly cover over choices that still deserve honest reflection.
"Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah. "
"Then King Asa gathered all Judah, and they carried away the stones and timber Baasha had been using to build Ramah, and used them to build up Geba and Mizpah instead."
Even when you've made a questionable choice, you can still act wisely with what results from it - one mistake doesn't have to spiral into carelessness everywhere else. Stay grounded and practical even while you're working through a deeper correction.
"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. "
"At that time, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and said, "Because you relied on the king of Syria and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped your hand.""
Sometimes the cost of solving a problem entirely by your own effort is that you miss out on what could have grown your trust and faith even further. I'm not against your effort - I'm for you including me in it.
"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. "
""Weren't the Ethiopians and the Libyans a massive army, with a great many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.""
When you're tempted to solve everything by your own strength, remember the times trust has already carried you through before - your own history is often the best evidence you have. Don't let a fearful moment erase what you already know to be true.
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. "
""For the LORD's eyes range throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You've acted foolishly in this - from now on you will have wars.""
I'm always looking for people whose hearts are fully with me, ready to show up powerfully for them - don't assume you have to prove yourself before I'll act on your behalf. But don't mistake my patience with your shortcuts for approval of them either.
"Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. "
"Then Asa was furious with the seer and put him in prison, enraged over what he'd said. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that same time."
When correction stings, the mature response is to sit with the discomfort, not to attack the person who told you the truth. I'd rather you feel the sting of honest feedback than surround yourself with people too afraid to give it to you.
"And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. "
"The rest of Asa's deeds, from beginning to end, are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel."
Your full story, good and bad choices together, is worth having recorded honestly somewhere, even if only a summary makes it into what others see. I already hold the complete account of your life with full understanding, not just the highlights.
"And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. "
"In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and it became very severe - yet even in his illness, he didn't seek the LORD, but only the physicians."
Using the practical help available to you - doctors, resources, good advice - is wise, but don't let it replace the deeper trust and honesty that should sit alongside it. I want to be part of your healing process, not shut out of it.
"And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. "
"Asa died and was buried with his ancestors, in the forty-first year of his reign."
Nobody's life is a single note - you can genuinely do great good and still stumble later, and that doesn't cancel out the good you did. I remember the whole of someone's story, not just how it ended.
"And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him. "
"They buried him in the tomb he had made for himself in the City of David, laying him on a bed filled with sweet spices and fragrances prepared by skilled perfumers, and they made a huge fire in his honour."
How someone finishes doesn't erase the value of what they built earlier, and it's fair to honour the good in someone's life even while being honest about where they fell short. Hold both truths about people with grace, including yourself.