2 Chronicles 16 8

2 Chronicles 16:8 kjv

Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

2 Chronicles 16:8 nkjv

Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.

2 Chronicles 16:8 niv

Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.

2 Chronicles 16:8 esv

Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand.

2 Chronicles 16:8 nlt

Don't you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the LORD, and he handed them over to you.

2 Chronicles 16 verses

2 Chronicles 16 8 Meaning

2 Chronicles 16:8 is part of the prophet Hanani's rebuke to King Asa, reminding him of a past significant victory as a clear demonstration of God's deliverance when Asa chose to rely solely on Him. Hanani refers to the formidable army of Ethiopians (Cushites) and Libyans (Lubim) that came against Judah. This rhetorical question highlights the overwhelming size and strength of that army, including its chariots and horsemen, which far surpassed Judah's military capacity. Despite the immense threat, Hanani asserts that because Asa placed his trust and dependence upon the LORD, God actively intervened and granted Asa a complete victory, delivering the vast enemy into his control. The verse serves as a historical precedent to admonish Asa for his current decision to rely on a human alliance with the King of Aram (Syria) rather than seeking God's help against King Baasha of Israel.

2 Chronicles 16 8 Context

The book of 2 Chronicles recounts the history of the kings of Judah from Solomon to the Babylonian exile, with a strong emphasis on spiritual lessons related to obedience and trust in the LORD. Chapter 16 details events in King Asa's later reign. After a long period of peace and a great reform earlier in his reign (Ch. 14-15), Asa faced an invasion by King Baasha of Israel. Instead of relying on God as he had previously, Asa chose to form a tactical alliance with Ben-Hadad, King of Aram (Syria), diverting treasury gifts to him in exchange for military support against Baasha. Hanani the seer comes to rebuke Asa for this lack of trust in God. Verse 8 directly refers back to the incredible victory God granted Asa over Zerah the Ethiopian and his massive army (described in 2 Chronicles 14:9-15), which was Asa's greatest military triumph precisely because he had then cried out to and fully relied on the LORD. The immediate historical context is Asa's lapse in faith, contrasted sharply with his earlier fidelity. Culturally, alliances were common geopolitical strategies, but Hanani's message underscores a theological perspective that for Judah, their ultimate security lay in their covenant relationship with God, not in worldly power dynamics.

2 Chronicles 16 8 Word analysis

• Were not: A rhetorical question implying an obvious "yes." It points to a well-known past event (the defeat of Zerah's army described in 2 Chron 14) that served as irrefutable evidence of God's power and Asa's former trust.

• the Ethiopians (כּוּשִׁים - Cushim): Refers to the people of Cush, typically located south of Egypt. Historically, the Cushites posed a significant military threat to ancient Israel and Egypt due to their powerful armies and strategic location. The sheer number of troops, a million men (2 Chron 14:9), indicates the immense challenge.

• and the Libyans (לוּבִים - Lubim): Peoples from Libya, West of Egypt. Often associated with the Cushites or Egyptians as military allies, contributing to their combined strength. Their inclusion further emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the hostile force.

• a huge army: Literal translation of "large multitude." Highlights the sheer size and seemingly insurmountable nature of the enemy force. This reinforces that humanly, victory was impossible.

• with very many chariots and horsemen: Specifies the military components that indicated supreme military power in ancient warfare. Chariots were the elite, destructive weapon of the age, and a large number signified formidable might.

• Yet because you relied (בְּהִשָּׁעֶנְךָ֙ - b'hisha'en'ka, "in your leaning/depending"): The pivotal phrase. "Yet" signifies a sharp contrast to the human impossibility presented by the huge army. "Relied" is a strong term for dependence, trusting completely, leaning wholly upon someone or something for support. This verb implies a deep and active commitment of trust, a forsaking of self-reliance or reliance on others.

• on the LORD (יהוה - YHWH): God's personal covenant name. This emphasizes that the reliance was placed not on an abstract concept, but on the living, personal God of Israel, who had repeatedly proven His faithfulness and power. It contrasts sharply with trusting in human strength or alliances.

• He gave them: God's active, direct agency in the outcome. It was not Asa's military prowess, nor Judah's strength, but God's sovereign hand delivering the victory.

• into your hand: An idiomatic expression for granting victory, putting something under someone's control. It signifies complete defeat of the enemy and Judah's full triumph by divine intervention.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen?": This whole clause is a rhetorical question designed to recall a massive, terrifying, humanly unbeatable force. The intent is to stress the scale of the past threat to magnify the divine deliverance. It highlights what humans naturally rely on (numbers, advanced weaponry) versus what God delivers through.
  • "Yet because you relied on the LORD, He gave them into your hand.": This forms a cause-and-effect statement, a theological principle. The "cause" is Asa's reliance on God, and the "effect" is God's decisive act of giving victory. This is the central theological point: reliance on God (faith) directly leads to God's powerful intervention and successful outcomes. It serves as both a reminder of past blessings and a sharp rebuke for the current failure to apply this same principle.

2 Chronicles 16 8 Bonus section

The rhetorical question form of 2 Chron 16:8 carries a tone of disappointed exasperation from Hanani. He expects Asa to recall this epic victory and the underlying principle it embodied, making Asa's current distrust all the more inexcusable. The historical accounts of Chronicles often emphasize that the prosperity and success of the kings of Judah were directly correlated with their obedience and reliance upon the LORD. Asa's initial obedience and subsequent success are consistently highlighted (e.g., 2 Chron 14:2, 4). This verse reveals a tragic spiritual decline in Asa, who began well, rooted out idolatry, and called Judah to renew their covenant with God (2 Chron 15). His later life demonstrates that even a committed reformer can falter and revert to worldly wisdom if they cease to fully lean on God. The ultimate lesson from Asa's narrative, especially illuminated by this verse, is the constant need for steadfast trust throughout one's walk with God, as past victories and blessings do not guarantee future faithfulness without continued reliance.

2 Chronicles 16 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:8 encapsulates a foundational truth regarding the nature of God's covenant relationship with His people: true security and victory come through absolute reliance on Him, not through human strategy, might, or alliances. Hanani's historical appeal reminds King Asa of God's faithfulness when he genuinely sought Him. The massive, virtually insurmountable enemy (one million men and 300 chariots as detailed in 2 Chron 14:9) serves as a dramatic backdrop to magnify the divine intervention. The verse implicitly argues against "realpolitik" that seeks advantage through worldly alliances, instead championing a radical dependence on the LORD. Asa's later lapse in faith, opting for the tactical alliance with Ben-Hadad, showed a heart no longer fully persuaded by God's past demonstrations of power. This verse serves as a timeless warning that even those who have experienced profound deliverance by God can stray if their trust shifts from divine providence to human capability. It also assures that God's power is limitless when His people depend on Him, transforming overwhelming odds into testimonies of His mighty hand. For instance, just as Asa learned, reliance on earthly power might offer temporary relief, but it sacrifices true, lasting peace that comes from the Lord. When facing a financial crisis, trusting solely in one's investments rather than praying and seeking God's wisdom, mirrors Asa's error.