II Chronicles 24, Joash, Boy King

The kings of Judah, after Solomon, have been Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah and now the child Joash, who had been protected by his parents from his murderous grandmother. The date is about 835 BC.

2 Chronicles 24:1-3, Under the wing of Jehoiada

Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother's name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
 

Joash's uncle Jehoiada watches over him and guides Joash in the covenat. The priest chooses two wives for Joash and through those wives, Joash has sons and daughters. The kingdom dynasty of David continues.

2 Chronicles 24: 4-6, Repair the temple

Some time later Joash decided to restore the temple of the LORD. He called together the priests and Levites and said to them, "Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the temple of your God. Do it now." 

But the Levites did not act at once. Therefore the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, "Why haven't you required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?"
 

Joash sets up a plan to repair the temple. He wants the priests and Levites to go out into the towns and collect money for the repairs. When the Levites do not act in a timely manner, Joash chastised Jehoiada. 2 Kings 12:4 has Joash describing the" tax imposed by  Moses" as involving money 

• "collected in the census, ... 
• received from personal vows, ... 
• brought voluntarily to the temple."

2 Chronicles 24: 7, Thefts by Athaliah

Now the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals.

The temple of YHWH, constructed by Solomon, is stripped and deteriorating. Athaliah's sons robbed the temple of sacred objects and used those objects in their idolatry in the temple of Baal. 

2 Chronicles 24: 8-14, Collection chest

At the king's command, a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the temple of the LORD. A proclamation was then issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they should bring to the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God had required of Israel in the desert. All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full.

Whenever the chest was brought in by the Levites to the king's officials and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this regularly and collected a great amount of money. The king and Jehoiada gave it to the men who carried out the work required for the temple of the LORD. They hired masons and carpenters to restore the LORD's temple, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the temple.

The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it. When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the LORD's temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the LORD.

 

A chest is set up for donations for temple repair and the people donate. The donations are large and significant. The people seem eager to get past Athaliah and return to the worship of YHWH, in the line of David.

2 Chronicles 24:15-16, Death of Jehoiada

Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty. He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.

Joash's uncle, the high priest in charge of the temple revival, dies at 130 (!) He is buried with honors as if he had been a king. (He was brother-in-law to a king.)

2 Chronicles 24: 17-19, Apostasy

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.
 

Once Joash's father, the priest, Jehoiada, is dead, his influence in gone and the officials revert back to the worship of Baal and Asherah, like Athaliah had before.

2 Chronicles 24:20-22, Zechariah accuses

Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, 

"This is what God says: `Why do you disobey the LORD's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'" 

 

But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's temple.
 

King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah's father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, "May the LORD see this and call you to account."

Joash, protected for so long by Jehoiada, cannot accept the son's criticism and so has him killed! Joash has become a brutal and corrupt ruler.

In the first century, the arrangement of Jewish scripture, the TaNaKh, was arranged in three parts (as represented by Ta, Na, and Kh):

• Law (Torah)
• Prophets (Nevi’im)
• Writings (Ketuvim)

(See, for example, this website.) The last scroll in the Ketuvim was the scroll of Chronicles. In the Chronicles account, the last prophet murdered is Zechariah. This may explain a comment of Jesus in Luke 11:50-51, in which he talks about the blood of all the prophets, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary." The last prophet killed (in the order of the scrolls) is this Zechariah, killed at the command of Joash. 

2 Chronicles 24:23-24, Arameans conquer

At the turn of the year, the army of Aram marched against Joash; it invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people. They sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus. Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash.

Again and again in the history of ancient Israel, the punishment for apostasy is invasion.

2 Chronicles 24:25-26, Wounded king assassinated

When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Those who conspired against him were Zabad, son of Shimeath an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith a Moabite woman.

 

When the Arameans withdraw, Joash's officials take advantage of Joash's injuries and murder him.  Joash is buried in the city of David, but like Jehoram before him (2 Chronicles 21:20), Joash is not buried in the tomb of the kings.

Among those conspiring against Joash are two men identified as sons of foreign women.

2 Chronicles 24:27, Records

The account of his sons, the many prophecies about him, and the record of the restoration of the temple of God are written in the annotations on the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

The Chronicler refers to more details in "the book of the kings."  That record is surely not the scroll of 1 & 2 Kings, but a more detailed record of royal history and genealogy. It apparently includes more prophecies about Joash, likely by those like Zechariah speaking in the last half of his reign.

II Chronicles 23, Plans to Restore the Throne

The kings of Judah, after Solomon, have been Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah. The last two kings have been murderous and their reigns short. All but one of Ahaziah's children were murdered by his mother, Athaliah, but Jehorm's son, Joash, has been hidden in the temple by the priest Jehoiada. Meanwhile Queen Athaliah has been reigning in Judah.

2 Chronicles 23: 1-7, Jehoiada's plan

In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God. 

Jehoiada said to them, "The king's son shall reign, as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the LORD.

No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes."

 

Jehoiada lays a careful plan to put Joash on the throne, in the face of Athaliah's control. He works with the "commanders of units", identified in 1 Kings 11:4 as "Carites and guards", possibly a mercenary group of soldiers. They gather leaders of various Israelite clans, keeping this all secret from Queen Ahtaliah. The priests and Levites are separated into thirds to keep watch at important locations (doors, palace, Foundation Gate) and otehrs were to be in the temple courtyard. It is clear that everyone (Levites and priests included) were to have their weapon (a spear?) in their hand and be prepared to fight.

2 Chronicles 23: 8-10, Ring around the temple

The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men--those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty--for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God. He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king--near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
 

The priests and commanders are armed with spears and shields and arranged around the temple. This is a large armed force surrounding the temple.

2 Chronicles 23: 11, Joash crowned

Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, "Long live the king!"

Joash is crowned and as is appropriate for a king of Israel, is presented with a copy of the covenant.  (See Deuteronomy 17:14-20 for a description of the godly king, including the presentation of the covenant.) After he is crowned, he is anointed and the people shout "Long live the king!", a shout that has been used for 3 millennia.

2 Chronicles 23: 12-14, Athaliah's reaction

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the LORD. She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"

Athaliah hears the shouting from coronation and rushes out to discover the reason. When she realizes that the priests and officers have presented someone else as ruler, she cries "Treason!" and in the culture of Israel, presents her anger and grief by tearing her robe.

2 Chronicles 23: 15-16, Killed at the Horse Gate

Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: "Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not put her to death at the temple of the LORD."

So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

Jehoiada has prepared for this event. Athaliah is grabbed and, following Jehoiada's previous instructions that her blood not be shed in the temple, she is dragged to a gate of Jerusalem and killed. The Horse Gate was apparently a gate that led to Solomon's stables, not far from the palace.

2 Chronicles 23: 16-21, Jehoiada's renewal

Jehoiada then made a covenant that he and the people and the king would be the LORD's people. All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
 

Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the LORD in the hands of the priests, who were Levites, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. He also stationed doorkeepers at the gates of the LORD's temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter. 

He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the LORD. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. 

And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.

Now that Joash is king and his uncle, the priest Jehoiada, is effectively in control, correct worship in the temple is set up and the idols to Baal and Asherah are torn down. The high priest of Baal is killed in the temple of Baal. Oversight of the temple is given to the priests and Levites, according to the assignments David had made almost two centuries before (see 1 Chronicles 23.) The burnt offerings are set up as Moses would have required and guards are posted the doors of the temple so that only the priests, after meeting requirements for purity, are allowed to enter. The wicked queen, daughter of Jezebel, has been deposed and now there is rejoicing. And peace.

II Chronicles 22, The Rise of Athaliah

The kings of Judah, after Solomon, have been Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram. Jehoram's reign has been a bloody disaster (literally.) The date is now about 841 BC.

2 Chronicles 22:1-4, Ahaziah king

The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign.

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing.
 

The evil northern kingdom of Ahab and Jezebel has an effect on the southern kingdom as the couples' daughter, Athaliah, influenced both her husband, Jehoram and her son, Ahaziah, in their idolatry. 

2 Chronicles 22: 5-6, Death of Ahaziah

He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram; so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramoth in his battle with Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab because he had been wounded.
 

Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah's downfall. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. While Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives, who had been attending Ahaziah, and he killed them.

Control of the town of Ramoth Gilead, east of the Jordan, has flowed back and forth between Israel and Aram-Damascus. Ahaziah, a grandson of Ahab and Jezebel, foolishly joins the northern kingdom in a campaign to retake that region and there Joram, king of the northern kingdom, is wounded. Ahaziah visits Joram after the battle, just as Jehu is overthrowing that kingdom.

Jehu (whose story is told more thoroughly in 2 Kings 9-10) overthrows Joram in Israel/Samaria and massacres the descendants of Ahab. Ahaziah is caught in the middle of that and barely escapes -- for the moment.

2 Chronicles 22: 9, Murder of Ahaziah

He then went in search of Ahaziah, and his men captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. He was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, "He was a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." So there was no one in the house of Ahaziah powerful enough to retain the kingdom.
 

Ahaziah is caught by Jehu and murdered. but, as the son of Jehoshaphat, he is buried with respect.

2 Chronicles 22: 10-12, Athaliah and Jehosheba

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Athaliah appears to be more in league with the northern kingdom and certainly opposed to the descendants of Ahaziah. She attempts to destroy the descendants of Jehoram but a daughter of Jehoram, Jehosheba, moves quickly to protect her nephew, Joash, and hide him in a bedroom of the palace. Because Jehosheba is the wife of the high priest, Jehoiada, they are able to eventually hide Joash in the temple.

The six year reign of Athaliah is also told in 2 Kings 11.

II Chronicles 21, Bloody Jehoram

The descendants of David who ruled in Judah were, in order, Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat. It is now about 850 BC, 120 years after the death of David.

2 Chronicles 21:1-3, Firstborn son is in charge

Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king. Jehoram's brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and articles of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he had given the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son.

The many sons of Jehoshaphat are wealthy, with many gifts and even fortified cities, but in the ANE culture, the firstborn gets the kingdom.

The life of Jehoram is summarized in 2 Kings 8:16-24. That passage does not have the names of Jehoram's brothers; those names are unique to Chronicles and show that the Chronicler had access to other court documents now lost.

2 Chronicles 21: 4-7, Court massacre

When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father's kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.

Jehoram is not satisfied to be king but massacres his siblings. Having married Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, he follows the theology and morality of his northern kingdom in-laws. (In the next chapter this massacre will be attributed to Athaliah.)

2 Chronicles 21: 8-11

In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. So Jehoram went there with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night. 

To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers. He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

Jehoram's reign is marked by uprisings due, ultimately, to his apostasy. Moab had rebelled against Israel after Ahab's death (2 Kings 1:1) and now Edom, further south, rebels against Judah. Libnah, most likely a Philistine town southwest of Judah, also rebelled. The Chronicler notes that Edom has been independent of Judah "to this day," that is, to the day of the author, probably around 450 BC., four centuries after the date of these events.

2 Chronicles 21: 12-15, Elijah has a message

Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: 

"This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: `You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. But you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's house, men who were better than you. So now the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.'"

Elijah has not appeared previously in the scroll of Chronicles as all of his ministry (outside this one event) has been in the northern kingdom. This passage about Elijah then causes some conflict. In 2 Kings 3:11-12, during the reign of Jehoshaphat, Elisha, not Elijah, is identified as an available prophet, one mentored by Elijah. Following that text, Elijah is dead by the time of Jehoram. Scholars debate a solution -- is the name "Elijah" here just a generic name for a prophet? Or is the assumption that Elijah died during Jehoshaphat's reign in error? The text of the letter clearly fits the prophetic message of Elijah and his fellow prophets.

2 Chronicles 21: 16-17, Family murdered

The LORD aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king's palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest.
 

Jehoram, who murdered his siblings, loses everything, including his family, to the Philistines and Arabs, arriving out of the southwest. Consistent with the earlier promises of God, one person in the line of David survives the attack and the Davidic dynasty will continue.

2 Chronicles 21: 18-20, Gruesome death

After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people made no fire in his honor, as they had for his fathers.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Jehoram dies horribly and no one grieves. He is buried in Jerusalem but not given the honor of burial in the tomb of kings.

People debate the modern identification of the disease of Jehoram and offer up dysentery (Payne, p. 507), Crohn's disease (Unchanged Maladies: Current Perspectives on Old Testament Diseases), colorectal cancer (Colorectal carcinoma that afflicted King Jehoram), and so on. Jehoram lived a miserable life and his death was consistent with the life lived.

II Chronicles 20, The Valley of Blessing

We continue details from Jehoshaphat's reign.

2 Chronicles 20:1-4, Parties approaching from the east

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

Jehoshaphat gets a report of Moabites and Ammonites coming from the east, from the other side of the Dead Sea. En Gedi is an oasis just west of the Dead Sea, south of Jerusalem.  Jehoshaphat this time inquires of YHWH immediately and calls for a fast in Judah.

2 Chronicles 20:5-12, Jehoshaphat calls for salvation

Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard and said: 

"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, `If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'

 

"But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

In the century since Solomon built the temple, a "new courtyard" has been added. It is from there that Jehoshaphat addresses the people.

Jehoshaphat reminds YHWH that it was He that gave the land of Canaan to Israel and made it a sanctaary "for [His] Name", and for the temple that bears His Name. And that He promised to save His people when they cried out to Him. The prayer echoes some of Solomon's prayers at the dedication of the temple, especially 2 Chronicles 6:34-35, involving help from enemy armies.)

The invaders are identified as men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. all east of the Jordan.

2 Chronicles 20:13-19, Go and watch

All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. He said: 

"Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: `Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.

 

Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.'"

 

Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.

All the people, including mothers with young children, stand before YHWH at the temple as Jehoshaphat prays. A prophet Jahaziel announces that Jehoshaphat and his army are to march toward the invaders and then stop and watch.

2 Chronicles 20:20-23, March to Tekoa

 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 

"Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! 

Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; 

have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 

"Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."

As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Solomon has died.

As the people of Judah march east, Jehoshaphat encourages them to trust YHWH.  As they sing and praise God, He sets up "ambushes" where the men of Ammon and Moab fight the invaders who are from Mount Seir.

2 Chronicles 20:24-25, Plunder

When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value--more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.

Jehoshaphat's men arrive to see only dead enemy soldiers, with considerable equipment, clothing and valuables. It takes them three days to collect all this loot.

2 Chronicles 20: 26-30, Praise in Beracah

On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 

Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.

The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.

The word "Beracah" is essentially the same word as berakah which means "blessing". In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, Moses sets before the Israelites a choice, between a blessing and a curse, a choice between a berakah or a quelalah. Jehoshaphat and his people have chosen the route of berakah and so name the valley for the result of their decision.

And so the victors, who have simply been witnesses of God's destruvtion of their enemies, march back to Jerusalem, singing and rejoicing. The victory is a warning to other nations and so there is peace.

2 Chronicles 20:31-34, He did what was right

So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers. 

The other events of Jehoshaphat's reign, from beginning to end, are written in the annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

 

Jehoshaphat is given a B grade -- he did well, obeying YHWH most of the time, but not getting the people to remove their persoanl idols on the local hilltops.  Jehu, mentioned earlier as an important prophet in Jehoshaphat's reign, kept of record of events, which are lost to us.

2 Chronicles 20:35-37, Wrecked ships

Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness. He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built at Ezion Geber, Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.

During Solomon's golden age, Israel traded with people along the Red Sea, using a merchant navy developed in collaboration with King Hiram of Tyre (2 Chronicles 8:17-18.) Jehoshaphat tries to rebuild this commercial fleet but that requires cooperating with the pagan king of the northern kingdom. A prophet, Eliezer, says that YHWH is not behind this endeavor and so the endeavor fails.

An Introduction to II Chronicles

We are working our way through the history of Israel in the scroll of Chronicles. We now enter the second half of that scroll, focusing on the southern kingdom, as the nation of Israel splits in two.

Purpose

The Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles continues the story of the Davidic kingdom, beginning with the high point of Solomon's reign, followed by the decay into the divided kingdoms and eventually the conquest of the southern kingdom by Babylon. There are similarities with the material in 1 and 2 Kings but there is almost no mention of the northern kingdom, Israel (which at times is called Samaria or Ephraim.) The author is writing to Jews returning from Babylon, preparing them for the Second Temple period, for a rebirth of the temple worship and the sacrificial system. As John Walton argues, Old Testament material like this is "written for us but not written to us." (I note in passing thst John Walton, Old Testament scholar, was a professor at Moody Bible Institute for 20 years. I attended Moody for one year, when I was eighteen.  Walton is only two years older than me so obviously my student year was before his time teaching there.) 

Dr. Carmen Imes has a nice explanation for the role of 1 & 2 Chronicles in a Christianity Today article. 

As the culture of the ancient Near East is very important for an understanding of the Old Testament, I have taken to abbreviating "ancient Near East" as ANE.

The author of the scroll of Chronicles is not given to us but tradition has it that it is the same person as the author of the scroll of Ezra-Nehemiah. Indeed, one commentator identifies the author as Ezra. Certainly the style and philosophy of Chronicles is very similar to that of Ezra-Nehemiah. I will merely call the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles "the Chronicler."

Outline

The first nine chapters describe the magnificent reign of Solomon.  Solomon's kingdom collapses after his death and is divided into the northern and southern kings in chapters 10 and 11. After that are 25 chapters covering the reign of 20 kings of Judah, beginning with Rehoboam and ending with Zedekiah.The last seven verses describe the exile into Babylon and the later declaration by Cyrus that allowed people to return to Judea. That short passage prepares the reader for the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The best overview of the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles is this short video by The Bible Project. Their videos are always excellent.

Resources and References

My practice is to read through the text from the New International Version (NIV), copied into the blog and italicized in blue.  The text is the focus of our study and so it is highlighted, broken into paragraphs. At the head of each blue paragraph of text I place a short title; after the text I place my thoughts or comments in black.  I begin this process with my own reactions and thoughts and then supplement these comments with gleanings from a commentary or two.

The real goal of this blog is to force myself and others to read every verse thoughtfully. I do hope that you, too, read the passages thoughtfully! Feel free to disagree -- or to react in other ways! (I place hyperlinks in pink, created so that one can click on a link and see the linked site open in another window... and go down a rabbit hole if you wish!)

For the study of 2 Chronicles, I have relied mainly on one commentary, the commentary by J. Barton Payne in volume 4 of The Expositor's Bible Commentary, published by Zondervan.

There are other resources online. 

1. There are online commentaries provided by EasyEnglishBible, a charity based in the United Kingdom. They have an online commentary by Ian Mackervoy on 2 Chronicles in two parts, here and here.
2. The Gospel Coalition has an online commentary on 2 Chronicles here.

The scroll of Chronicles will be followed by the scroll of Ezra-Nehemiah. 

II Chronicles 19, Promoting Justice In Judah

Jehoshaphat has barely escaped with his life, after a disastrous alliance with King Ahab, of the northern kingdom.

2 Chronicles 19: 1-3, Scolded by Jehu

When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you. There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God."

 

As Jehoshaphat returns, he is chastised by the prophet Jehu. Jehu says that Jehoshaphat has drawn YHWH's wrath by his alliance to Ahab. However, it is good that Jehoshaphat got rid of the Asherah poles (and other idols) and that is recognized in his favor.

Jehu is the son of Hanani, the prophet who, in 2 Chronicles 16:7,  confronted Asa for an alliance

2 Chronicles 19: 4-7, More renewal

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 

He told them, "Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery."

Chastised, Jehoshaphat continues past reforms, encouraging people from Beersheba in the south to the northern hills of Ephraim in their devotion to YHWH. He also appoints judges and emphasizes their need for honesty and integrity, under the direction of YHWH.

2 Chronicles 19: 8-11, Renewal in Jerusalem

In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: "You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD. In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities--whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances--you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not sin.

"Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the LORD be with those who do well."

Jehoshaphat also emphasizes justice in the capital, Jerusalem. He appoints a priest, Amariah, and a leader of the tribe of Judah, Zebadiah, as leaders in these matters. The king distinguishes between legal matters concerning the king and matters "concerning the LORD", presumably matters of worship and ceremonial law.

II Chronicles 18, Jehoshaphat and Ahab

Jehoshaphat, great-great-grandson of Solomon, is now reigning in Jerusalem. The date is about 855 BC. Assyria is growing in power to the east.

The past chapter emphasized some important reforms that occurred in  the early years of Jehoshaphat's reign. In the middle years of Jehoshaphat's reign, like other kings before him, he begins to succumb to various political pressures. This leads to some significant events in collaboration with King Ahab in Israel, material also covered in 1 Kings 22.

2 Chronicles 18: 1-4, Alliance with Ahab

Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead. Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?" 

Jehoshaphat replied, "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war." But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."

 

Jehoshaphat allies himself by marriage to Ahab. It is not clear what the alliance is, but as we will see later, it at least includes the marriage of Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, to Athaliah, daughter of Ahab. This marriage to a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel will have a serious effect on Judah for generations.

Ahab wants Jehoshaphat to join him in a campaign against Ramoth Gilead, on the trade route to Damascus. Payne says that in 853 BC Shalmaneser III of Assyria fought a significant battle with Aram-Damascus and Israel at Quaqar on the Orontes River. It is possible that this battle had weakened Aram-Damascus enough for Ahab to believe he could collect a town or two on the border with Damascus.

Jehoshaphat, after agreeing to join Ahab, decides that he wants to hear from some prophets on this.

2 Chronicles 18: 5-7, Ask the prophets

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets--four hundred men--and asked them, "Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" 

"Go," they answered, "for God will give it into the king's hand."

 

But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?"

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." 

"The king should not say that," Jehoshaphat replied.

Ahab agrees to Jehoshaphat's request to hear from prophets regarding an attack on Aram-Damascus. Four hundred of Ahab's prophets all say, "Yes, sure! Attack Ramoth Gilead!"  But none of these are prophets of YHWH. Indeed, as we learn from the account in 1 Kings, Ahab and Jezebel worship Baal and Ashtoreth. Jehoshaphat wants to hear from a prophet of YHWH. Ahab grudgingly agrees. "But that guy never says anything good about me," the king complains.

So they bring in Micaiah son of Imlah.

2 Chronicles 18: 8-13, Michaiah's prophesy.

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once."

Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance to the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns, and he declared, "This is what the LORD says: `With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'" All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. "Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious," they said, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand."

The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."

But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what my God says."

Zedekiah makes a pair of iron horns (symbols of power) and prophesies that with those horns Ahab will gore the army of Aram-Damascus and be victorious. But then Micaiah is brought in to prophesy on the upcoming battle. (There is an implication that Micaiah is restrained in a town nearby; at the end of this chapter we will see Micaiah sent back to the town and to prison.) As Micaiah is brought into the palace, he is warned that the other prophets have already spoken favorably to Ahab and that he should also give a positive response. Micaiah shrugs and says, "I can only tell him what God says."

2 Chronicles 18: 14-17, Sheep without a shepherd

When he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" 

"Attack and be victorious," he answered, "for they will be given into your hand."

The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"

Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, `These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"

Micaiah's first prophesy is dripping with sarcasm.  "Sure, go attack Ramoth Gilead. You will be victorious."  The sarcasm is clear to Ahab. He asks Micaiah to tell him the truth. Micaiah's answer is the one Ahab feared, that the battle will result in chaos for Israel, with the army scattered about without a ruler, like sheep without a shepherd. Ahab whines to Jehoshaphat, "See! He only says bad things!"

2 Chronicles 18: 18-22, The spirit volunteers

Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing on his right and on his left. And the LORD said, `Who will entice Ahab king of Israel into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?' 

"One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, `I will entice him.' 

"`By what means?' the LORD asked.

"`I will go and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said. 

"`You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. `Go and do it.'

"So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you."

To emphasize his prophesy, Micaiah tells of a scene at the throne of God. YHWH asks for someone to entice Ahab to his death.  A spirit comes forward and offers to use the mouths of the false prophets to bring Ahab to his death. (Payne says that the Hebrew herfe is literally "the spirit", similar to The Accuser in Job.) This spirit is giving the authority to go and do so, and, says Micaiah, this is what you have before you, false prophets leading you to your doom

2 Chronicles 18: 23-27, Slapped

Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go when he went from me to speak to you?" he asked.

Micaiah replied, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room."

The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king's son, and say, `This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'"

Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people!"

The false prophet Zedekiah is infuriated by Micaiah's answer and slaps him. Zedekiah sarcastically asks, "Where did that spirit go after he went from me to you?" Micaiah responds by saying, "You will know I speak truth when later you are hiding in an inner room." (Presumably Zedekiah will either be hiding from enemy forces after a defeat or possibly hiding from Ahab's leaders after Ahab's death.)

Micaiah is sent back to prison and is to be fed little until Ahab returns fro battle. Micaiah's response is a strong one. To Ahab he says, "If you return them I have indeed been a false prophet." But to the audience he says, "Remember what I said here!"

2 Chronicles 18:28-32, Disguise

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, "Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel."
 

When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, "This is the king of Israel." So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him, for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him.

In a scene that is almost comical, Ahab attempts to avoid the promised death by dressing as a common soldier while Jehoshaphat dresses at the king-leader. (Why Jehoshaphat would agree to this, after all the prophesy and deceit, is unclear!)

As one might expect, the soldiers of Aram are trying to kill the king of the opposing army. They concentraste on Jehoshaphat but Jehoshaphat cries out (either to God or to the enemy) and the enemy, helped by YHWH, realize they are not pursuing theking of Israel and break of their pursuit of Jehoshaphat, presumably to search for Ahab.

2 Chronicles 18: 33-34, At random

But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told the chariot driver, "Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I've been wounded."

All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.

Besides kings, other soldiers die in battle and a random shot from the enemy strikes Ahab. Ahab tells his chariot driver that he is hit and they withdraw from the battle. Eventually, badly wounded, King Ahab dies facing his enemy. Micaiah was right.

II Chronicles 17, Jehoshaphat, Great-great-grandson of Solomon

The date is about 870 BC, one hundred years after the death of David. Judah has, since then, been ruled by Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah and Asa. We now come to Asa's son Jehosphaphat.

2 Chronicles 17: 1-2, Strengthening the border

Jehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

Jehoshaphat concentrates on strengthening cities along the border with Israel (Ephaim.)

2 Chronicles 17: 3-6, YHWH is with him

The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.
 

In his early years, Jehoshaphat is committed to following YHWH. He does not follow Baal or Asherah and removes Asherah poles and idols in the high places.

We will learn in 2 Chronicles 20:31 that Jehoshaphat reigned for 25 years. To make this fit into a timeline of ancient history, this requires a 3-year coregency, overlapping another king's reign. Since 2 Chronicles 16:12-13 describes a significant 3-year foot injury that eventually kills his father Asa, it is likely that Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah during those last three years.

2 Chronicles 17: 7-10, Teachers sent out

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites--Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah--and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. 

The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat goes as far as sending people out to the towns of Judah, to promote the Law of Moses. The teachers include leading officials of the kingdom, along with some Levites. The Chronicler reports that this devotion to YHWH is frightening for the surround kingdoms and they leave the southern kingdom of Judah alone.

2 Chronicles 17: 11-19, Tribute

Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats. Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem.

Their enrollment by families was as follows: 

   From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000: 

   Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men; 

   next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000; 

   next, Amasiah son of Zicri, who volunteered himself for the service of the LORD, with 200,000.
   From Benjamin: Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;
   next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

The Philistine and Arabs (bedouins people southwest of Jerusalem?) pay tribute to Judah. Jehoshaphat keeps an experienced fighting force in Jerusalem and the fortified towns nearby. Commentator Payne says that the enrollments above (300000, 280000, 200000, 200000, 180000) is best translated as "chiefs" (alluwph) in place of "thousands" (eleph).

Most of the material in this chapter does not appear in 1 Kings and so is apparently from a source long since lost. The Chronicler, focused on restoring correct worship in Jerusalem after the exile, will expand on examples of the "good kings" like Jehoshaphat, while hurrying through the history of some of the apostate kings.

II Chronicles 16, Asa's Decline

We are late in the reign of King Asa. Asa is of the lineage of David (David-Solomon-Rehoboam-Abijah-Asa) and is king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 16: 1-3, War with Baasha

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah. Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD's temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. "Let there be a treaty between me and you," he said, "as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me."

The warfare between Baasha and Asa is probably around the twenty-sixth year of Asa's reign and Baasha died before the thirty-fifth year (2 Kings 15:33.) Payne suggests that the "thirty-sixth" year either represents a copy error that turned 26 into 35 or that the count of years is from the breakup of the two kingdoms and that this war occurs 36 years after the breakup. Either solution places the war with Baasha at about 895 BC.

Ben-Hadad fortifies Ramah, a village north of Jerusalem, formerly home to the prophet Samuel (Samuel 8:4.) He uses the fortification as a way to blockade trade into Judah.

To defend himself against Baasha, Asa makes an agreement with Ben-Hadad of Damascus, north of the northern kingdom. He essentially pays Ben-Hadad tribute. This gives Baasha a war on two fronts: Ben-Hadad to the north and Asa to the south.

2 Chronicles 16: 4-6, Baasha

Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work.

Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.

Asa's plan works and Baasha has to withdraw from Ramah. Asa dismantles the construction at Ramah and uses it to build up villages Geba (near Ramah) and Mizpah. (Mizpah, meaning "watch tower", is a name apparently used for a number of towns in Canaan.

2 Chronicles 16: 7-10, Prophecy of Hanani

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: "Because you 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. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

 

Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.

A prophet, Hanani, scolds Asa for relying on his own resources in addressing the conflict with Baasha. He reminds Hanani that YHWH had protect Asa in the previous conflicts -- that should have been a lesson learned. (This passage does not have a parallel in 1 Kings and so represents independent information available to the Chronicler.)

Kings are never happy with a prophet who confronts them. We see that here with Asa and Hanani; we will see that again with Joash and Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-21); it even appears in the New Testament with Herod and John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-29.)

2 Chronicles 16: 11-14, Asa's death

The events of Asa's reign, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.

Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers. They buried him in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bier covered with spices and various blended perfumes, and they made a huge fire in his honor.

Like the kings before him, Asa "rests with his fathers." He is buried with honor by the people. 

The brief passage in Kings (1 Kings 15:9-24) on Asa's reign also mentions the severe disease of Asa's feet. The Chronicler scolds Asa for relying only on physicians for healing, instead of going (also) to YHWH.  

The Chronicler refers to "the book of the kings of Judah." As Payne points out, this cannot be our scroll of 1 and 2 Kings, as it has much less information on Asa. Payne writes that the book of the kings of Judah referenced in this passage, "seems to have consisted of some extensive court chronicle that is now lost" (p. 491.)