Keraia
2 Chronicles 16

2 Chronicles 16:4

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

Translations

Modern
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
Traditional
And Ben–hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel–maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
Literal
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and he sent the captains of the forces who were unto him against the cities of Israel. And they attacked Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
Latin
Quo comperto, Benadad misit principes exercituum suorum ad urbes Israël: qui percusserunt Ahion, et Dan, et Abelmaim, et universas urbes Nephthali muratas.

Original

Hebrew
English
And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

Notes

2 Chronicles 16:4

  • King Ben-hadad of Aram (2 Chronicles 16:2) broke his treaty with Baasha and attacked northern Israel. He captured all of Naphtali, which included Galilee and most of the land north of the Jezreel Valley and east of the Sea of Galilee.

  • Ijon was a large village in the southern Beqa‘ Valley, on the southern border of modern-day Lebanon. This town is usually listed with Dan (Laish), Abel-beth-maacah, and Hazor in northern Israel. Abel-beth-maacah was near a major waterfall of the Jordan River tributaries, at the meeting point of the Hula Valley and the Beqa‘ Valley in Lebanon.

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 Ben-hadad: King of Aram, contemporary of Asa and Baasha Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Naphtali: Son of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali

Places

Abel-beth-maacah: A city in northern Israel, also called Abel-maim Dan: Israelite tribe; city in northern Israel; originally called Laish/Leshem Ijon: A town in northern Israel conquered by Assyria

Glossary

Abel (Place) Abel-maim Chronicles, Books of First and Second Genealogy Hanani Ijon Jehoram Ramah

Topics

Abel-Beth-Maachah: Taken by Benhadad Armies: March in Ranks: Confederated Baasha: King of Israel Ben-Hadad: King of Syria Cities: Designated as Treasure Dan: A City of the Tribe of Dan: Capture by Ben-Hadad Ijon: A Town of the Territory of the Tribe of Naphtali Ramah: Called Rama: Attempted Fortification of, by King Baasha; Destruction of, by Asa Tribe of Naphtali: Against