2 Chronicles 16 · a question people ask
What did Hanani say Asa had done wrong?
Hanani names one thing: "Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God" (16:7), and "You have done foolishly in this" (16:9). He doesn't speak of the treasures of the LORD's house (16:2) or the words of the treaty (16:3), and these notes don't add a charge he didn't make. The chapter gives no answer from Asa in words; it says, "Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison" (16:10). One chapter earlier, 2 Chronicles said, "nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days" (15:17), and Hanani speaks of "them whose heart is perfect toward him" (16:9), with the same Hebrew word, shalem (tap perfect). The book doesn't say how these fit together. 1 Kings 15's honest question sets the verdict on Asa's heart beside this chapter, and these notes don't choose.
The verses
“Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the LORD’s house and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, “Let there be a treaty between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.””
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand.”
“For the LORD’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.” Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.”
“But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.”