Keraia
2 Chronicles 16

2 Chronicles 16:1

War between Asa and Baasha · 2 Chronicles 16:1–6
Read 2 Chronicles 16

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and he fortified Ramah, so as to allow none to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Latin
Anno autem trigesimo sexto regni ejus, ascendit Baasa rex Israël in Judam, et muro circumdabat Rama, ut nullus tute posset egredi et ingredi de regno Asa.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

2 Chronicles 16:1

  • In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign: The book of Kings states that King Baasha, who reigned from 909 to 886 BC, died in the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign (1 Kings 16:8). One solution is that the Chronicles text might have errors and should instead read the fifteenth and sixteenth years, which would be about 895 BC, instead of the thirty-fifth (2 Chronicles 15:19) and thirty-sixth years of Asa. Another possibility is that the Chronicler counted these years from the division of the kingdom.

  • Ramah was located five miles north of Jerusalem near Geba and Mizpah (see 2 Chronicles 16:6). King Baasha expanded Israel deep into the territory of Benjamin, separating important territory from Judah shortly after Abijah’s victories (2 Chronicles 13:19).

2 Chronicles 16:1–10

Asa relied on foreign powers instead of trusting the Lord when Baasha attacked. The Chronicler aimed to show that disobedience leads to consequences.

Theme notes and profiles

Asa Trusting in Human Strength

Parallels

1 Kings 15:16–22

People

Asa: King of Judah, son of Abijah; father of Jehoshaphat Baasha: Third king of Israel who ruled for 24 years Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Ramah: A town in Benjamin, near Gibeah and Jerusalem

Glossary

Chronicles, Books of First and Second Genealogy Hanani Jehoram Ramah

Topics

Asa: King of Judah Baasha: King of Israel Prophecies Concerning Israel: Asa's Good Reign Ramah: Called Rama: Attempted Fortification of, by King Baasha; Destruction of, by Asa