(9) For the eyes of the Lord.--Literally, For Jehovah, his eyes run, &c. Run to and fro (comp. Job 1:7; Job 2:2). In Zechariah 4:10 we find this very phrase: "The eyes of Jehovah, they run to and fro in all the earth." (Comp. also Jeremiah 5:1.) The Lord is ceaselessly watchful for occasions of helping the faithful. "He that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleep-eth."

In the behalf of.--With, i.e., on the side of. The phrase "to shew oneself strong with," i.e., strongly to support, occurred in 1Chronicles 11:10. (For the Heb. construction, which omits the relative, see 1Chronicles 15:12). Out of the twenty-seven occurrences of the form hithchazzaq, "to show oneself strong," fifteen are found in the Chronicle.

Whose heart is perfect.--See Notes on 1Chronicles 12:38; 1Chronicles 27:9; 1Chronicles 29:19; 1Kings 15:14; 2Chronicles 15:17.

Herein thou hast done foolishly.--Literally, Thou hast shown thyself foolish (2Samuel 24:10; 1Chronicles 21:8) in regard to this, seil., conduct in seeking the help of Syria against Israel.

Therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.--Instead of peace (2Chronicles 14:6; 2Chronicles 15:15). Liter-ally, For (the proof of thy folly) from henceforth, &c. The sense appears to be that the peace secured by Asa's worldly policy would not be permanent; a prediction verified over and over again in the after-history of the kingdom of Judah (see 2Chronicles 28:20-21). The record is silent as to any future wars in which Asa himself was involved, simply because the writer, having already fulfilled his didactic purpose so far as concerns this reign, presently draws its history to a close.

Verse 9. - Thou shalt have wars. Although this language at first seems to be intended for very specific application to Asa, yet as we do not read of individual wars occurring after this in his own time, it is quite within a just interpretation of it if we read it as referring to the inevitable experience of the kingdom. Its head and king had just thrown away the opportunity of blocking out one ever-threatening enemy. What more natural consequence than that wars should rush in the rather as a flood, in the after-times?

16:1-14 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 power 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 prophet shows that he, of all men, had no reason to distrust God, who had found 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 how 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's displeasure at this reproof. What is man, when God leaves him to himself! He that abused his power for persecuting God's prophet, was left to himself, to abuse it further for crushing his own subjects. Two 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, and obedience.For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,.... The eyes of his omniscience are everywhere, and the eyes of his mercy and goodness, of his care and providence, are here and there, and in every place throughout the whole world at once, see Zechariah 4:10,

to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him; or, as in the margin, "strongly to hold" with such, to be on their side, take their part, strengthen them, support and supply them, and to protect and defend them who are sincere and upright in heart; whose graces are sincere and unfeigned, though not complete, nor they free from sin, and who, with the heart, sincerely believe in God, in which Asa at this time failed, though otherwise his heart is said to be perfect, 1 Kings 15:4, it was so in the general bent of it, and especially with respect to the worship of God, though there was something lacking in his faith at this time, as there often is in the best of men:

herein thou hast done foolishly; to trust in man, and not in the Lord, to part with his money, and lose the opportunity of having the whole Syrian army fall into his hands:

therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars; which, though we read not of, was doubtless his case; some interpret it of his posterity.