Explanation: 2 Chronicles 16 describes the spiritual decline of Asa during the last five years of his life. One symptom of his decline was his use of human help in preference to the LORD's help. The painting above represents one of those human means -- a physician. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 1 Kings 15:16-22, 32; 1 Kings 16].
     Baasha (909-886 B.C.), King of Israel, came against Asa (911-870 B.C.), King of Judah, during the 36^th year of Asa's reign. His purpose was to stop traffic between Judah and other nations. Asa responded by sending silver and gold from the Temple and from his house which induced Benhadad, King of Syria, to break his covenant with Baasha. Benhadad then "conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali (ESV)," which caused Baasha to stop fortifying Ramah. Then Asa used the building materials of Ramah to fortify Geba and Mizpah (1-6). But Hanani the seer rebuked Asa for not relying (as he had before) on the LORD to defeat the King of Syria. He told Asa that "the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." The prophet told him that he would have wars from then on. But Asa imprisoned Hanani and oppressed some of his people as well (7-10). In the 39^th year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet; but he sought the help on the physicians, not the help of the LORD. This disease may have been gout; peripheral vascular disease, or some other malady. Two years later he died; and the people gave him a very elaborate and honorific funeral (11-14).
     As detailed in 1 Kings 16, after Baasha, King of Israel died, five additional kings came to the throne of Israel during the reign of Asa, king of Judah. These were Elah (886-885 B.C.), Zimri (885 B.C.), Omri (885-874 B.C.), Tibni (885-880 B.C.), and Ahab (874-853 B.C.). Elah was overthrown in a plot by Zimri, who killed all of Elah's relatives and friends, in accord with a prophecy to that effect by the LORD. It was a judgment for idolatry. Zimri reigned for only seven days. When he heard that the army proclaimed that Omri, their captain, was king, Zimri committed suicide by setting fire to the palace and burning it down around himself. This was a judgment from the LORD upon his sins. When Omri came to the throne of Israel, a powerful faction elected Tibni king. They struggled with one another for about five or six years until Tibni died, leaving Omri in sole control of Israel. Tibni's death may have come by military means, because 1 Kings 16:22 says that "the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died" (ESV). So Omri came to sole control of Israel; but his idolatry and sin was worse than those before him; so the wrath of God was against him and his people. When he died, Ahab, his son came to the throne. Ahab was even more evil than Omri. And, to his sins, he added a marriage to Jezebel; and he began to worship Baal and Asherah. During his reign, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho (1 Kings 16:34). But Hiel's firstborn son died when he laid the foundation; and his youngest son died when he set up the gates. Both may have been sacrificed. This fulfilled a prophecy by Joshua in Joshua 6:26 (c. 1405 B.C.) -- around 530 or 540 years, more or less, later. Asa, King of Judah, died in the fourth year (870 B.C.) of Ahab's 22 year reign.

     ¹¹ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. ¹³ And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. ¹⁴ And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.

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