2 Chronicles 16:7

“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, etc.] Being sent by the Lord to reprove him: and said unto him, because thou hast relied on the king of Syria; on the covenant he made with him, on the promises the Syrian king made to him upon receiving his money, and so trusted to an arm of flesh, and even an Heathen king: and not relied on the Lord thy God; his promises, power, and providence, which he had reason to believe would have been engaged on his behalf, had he placed his confidence in him as he ought to have done: the Targum is, “and not relied on the Word of the Lord thy God:” therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand; which otherwise would…”

“Hanani the seer came to Asa . . . and said--His object was to show the king his error in forming his recent league with Ben-hadad. The prophet represented the appropriation of the temple treasures to purchase the services of the Syrian mercenaries, as indicating a distrust in God most blameable with the king's experience. He added, that in consequence of this want of faith, Asa had lost the opportunity of gaining a victory over the united forces of Baasha and Ben-hadad, more splendid than that obtained over the Ethiopians. Such a victory, by destroying their armies, would have deprived them of all power to molest him in the future; whereas by his foolish and worldly policy, so unworthy of…”

“The rebuke of Hanani and his imprisonment by Asa, omitted by the writer of Kings, are among the most important of the additions to Asa’s history for which we are indebted to the author of Chronicles. 2 Chronicles 16:7 Escaped out of thine hand - Hanani means, “Hadst thou been faithful, and opposed in arms the joint host of Israel and Syria, instead of bribing the Syrian king to desert to thy side, the entire host would have been delivered into thy hand, as was Zerah’s. But now it is escaped from thee. Thou hast lost a glorious opportunity.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 From henceforth thou shalt have wars - As peace had been the reward of Asa’s earlier faith 2Ch 14:5; 2 Chronicles 15:5, so his want of…”

“Escaped - And so reserved to be a scourge to thy kingdom and posterity: whereas if he had joined with Baasha against thee, thou shouldst have overthrown them both, and prevented all that mischief which that monarch will do to thy family. 2 Chronicles 16:8”

“16:7-9 Hanani the seer announced to Asa that he would suffer war from then on as a consequence of his disobedience. This judgment was a clear antithesis to Asa’s earlier victory over Zerah, when the odds were against him but he trusted in the Lord (14:9-13). Just as Asa’s previous reliance on the Lord had brought the land peace (14:5), his reliance on military power now destined him to continual warfare.”

“Hanani: Ch2 19:2, Ch2 20:34; Kg1 16:1 Because: Psa 146:3-6; Isa 31:1, Isa 32:2; Jer 17:5, Jer 17:6; Eph 1:12, Eph 1:13 relied on: Ch2 13:18, Ch2 32:7, Ch2 32:8; Kg2 18:5; Ch1 5:20 the host: Ch2 16:3 2 Chronicles 16:8”

“The rebuke of the prophet Hanani, and Asa's crime. - Ch2 16:7. The prophet Hanani is met with only here. Jehu, the son of Hanani, who announced to Baasha the ruin of his house ( Kg1 16:1), and who reappears under Jehoshaphat ( Ch2 19:2), was without doubt his son. Hanani said to King Asa, "Because thou hast relied on the king of Aram, and not upon Jahve thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram escaped out of thy hand." Berth. has correctly given the meaning thus: "that Asa, if he had relied upon God, would have conquered not only the host of Baasha, but also the host of the king of Damascus, if he had, as was to be feared, in accordance with his league with Baasha ( Ch2 16:3), in…”