John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 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 have fallen into it, had he left him to continue in league with the king of Israel, and not solicited him to break it; for then he would have come with him against Asa, and the Lord would have delivered him to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Asa seeks the aid of the Syrians, His death.
--A plain and faithful reproof was given to Asa by a prophet of the Lord, for making a league with Syria. God is displeased when he is distrusted, and when an arm of flesh is relied on, more than his powe and goodness. It is foolish to lean on a broken reed, when we have the Rock of ages to rely upon. To convince Asa of his folly, the prophe shows that he, of all men, had no reason to distrust God, who had foun him such a powerful Helper. The many experiences we have had of the goodness of God to us, aggravate our distrust of him. But see ho deceitful our hearts are! we trust in God when we have nothing else to trust to, when need drives us to him; but when we have other things to stay on, we are apt to depend too much on them. Observe Asa' displeasure at this reproof. What is man, when God leaves him to himself! He that abused his power for persecuting God's prophet, wa left to himself, to abuse it further for crushing his own subjects. Tw years before he died, Asa was diseased in his feet. Making use of physicians was his duty; but trusting to them, and expecting that from them which was to be had from God only, were his sin and folly. In all conflicts and sufferings we need especially to look to our own hearts that they may be perfect towards God, by faith, patience, an obedience _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ובעת6256 ההיא1931 בא935 חנני2607 הראה7200 אל413 אסא609 מלך4428 יהודה3063 ויאמר559 אליו413 בהשׁענך8172 על5921 מלך4428 ארם758 ולא3808 נשׁענת8172 על5921 יהוה3069 אלהיך430 על5921 כן3651 נמלט4422 חיל2426 מלך4428 ארם758 מידך׃3027
