Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

2 CHRONICLES 16:2KJV
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2 Chronicles 16:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 16:2 mean?

2 Chronicles 16:2 describes King Asa of Judah taking silver and gold from both the temple (the house of the LORD) and his own palace, and sending these treasures to Benhadad, the king of Syria who lived in Damascus. Asa is reaching out to Benhadad to form an alliance by offering him valuable gifts.

In this situation, Asa is responding to a threat from Baasha, the king of Israel, by seeking help from a foreign ruler rather than relying on God. The verse sets up a turning point in Asa’s reign, showing a shift in his approach to dealing with political and military challenges. The action of taking treasures from both the temple and the palace highlights the seriousness and costliness of Asa’s decision.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 16:2

  • "Treasures" (אוֹצָר, 'otsar): This word refers to stored-up wealth or valuables. Its use here emphasizes that Asa is not just giving a small gift, but is dipping into the nation’s most important reserves, including those dedicated to God.
  • "House of the LORD" (בֵּית יְהוָה, beit YHWH): This phrase makes clear that some of the silver and gold came directly from the temple, which would have been considered sacred and set apart for worship, not for political deals.
  • "Sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach): This verb indicates a deliberate act of dispatching or sending, showing Asa’s initiative in reaching out to Benhadad rather than waiting for events to unfold.

Why 2 Chronicles 16:2 matters

  • The verse highlights a key moment where Asa chooses political strategy over trust in God, which becomes a major theme in the chapter and is later critiqued by the prophet Hanani.
  • By mentioning both the temple and the king’s palace, the verse underlines the depth of Asa’s commitment to this alliance, even at spiritual and national cost.
  • Understanding this verse helps clarify the broader narrative of Asa’s reign, showing how his earlier faithfulness gives way to more pragmatic, less faithful choices as challenges arise.

Where else these words appear

“Benhadad” Hebrew H1130 · used in 24 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
  • 1 Kings 20:16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
  • 2 Kings 8:7 And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.

“Damascus” Hebrew H1834 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
  • 2 Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
  • Isaiah 17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

“Asa” Hebrew H609 · used in 52 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 16:10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.

“treasures” Hebrew H214 · used in 70 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:8 And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
  • Isaiah 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: