2 Chronicles 16 · a question people ask
How does "the thirty-sixth year" fit with 1 Kings?
2 Chronicles says, "In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah" (16:1), and just before, "There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign" (15:19). 1 Kings says, "In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years" (1 Kings 15:33), and "In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years" (1 Kings 16:8). Neither book explains how these verses fit together. These notes quote them as they stand and don't reckon the years or choose an explanation; 1 Kings 15's go-deeper sets them side by side too, and chapter 14's honest question sets 16:1 beside 1 Kings 15:16.
The verses
“In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.”
“There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.”
“In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah for twenty-four years.”
“In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years.”