2 Chronicles 16:11-14 Meaning: Asa's Last Days
11Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great; yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but just the physicians.
13Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the forty-first year of his reign.
14They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in David’s city, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire for him.
11And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12And 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.
13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14And 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.
11And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12And in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians.
13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.
11And lo, the matters of Asa, the first and the last, lo, they are written on the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12And Asa is diseased--in the thirty and ninth year of his reign--in his feet, till his disease is excessive, and also in his disease he hath not sought Jehovah, but among physicians.
13And Asa lieth with his fathers, and dieth in the forty and first year of his reign,
14and they bury him in one of his graves, that he had prepared for himself in the city of David, and they cause him to lie on a bed that one hath filled with spices, and divers kinds of mixtures, with perfumed work; and they burn for him a burning--very great.
11And behold the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12And Asa in the thirty-ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was extremely great; yet in his disease he did not seek Jehovah, but the physicians.
13And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one-and-fortieth year of his reign.
14And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had excavated for himself in the city of David, and laid him in a bed filled with spices, a mixture of divers kinds prepared by the perfumer's art; and they made a very great burning for him.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did King Asa stop seeking the Lord when he became sick?
Context
The Chronicler is wrapping up the story of King Asa of Judah, a king whose reign began with bold trust in God. He had defeated a huge army by relying on the Lord (chapter 14), listened to a prophet's warning (chapter 15), and led national reform. But the final chapter of his life is quieter, and sadder. These verses close Asa's account with a standard formula, a note that his full acts are recorded elsewhere. Yet the writer pauses to highlight one detail: in his final sickness, Asa did not turn to Yahweh, but only to the physicians. The royal funeral with its spices and great fire gives him honor, but the spiritual lesson already hangs in the air.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb darash appears in verse 12, translated 'he sought.' This word means more than a casual look. It carries the sense of consulting, of turning to someone for direction and help. Throughout Chronicles, people 'seek' God when they need guidance in battle, forgiveness, or healing. The tragedy is that Asa used this same word in his good years, and now, when his body fails, he does not darash Yahweh, but reaches for the rophe'im, the physicians. The word for physicians comes from the root rapha, 'to heal.' That sounds innocent enough. But several commentators note that many ancient physicians used charms, incantations, and magic alongside their medicine. Asa's fault was not going to a doctor; it was putting his trust in human skill while ignoring the God who gives both skill and healing. Two ordinary words, placed side by side, reveal where a king's heart had drifted.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that this passage warns against neglecting God. Most Protestant commentators emphasize that Asa trusted in human helpers instead of seeking the Lord in prayer. The Targum (an ancient Aramaic paraphrase) says he 'sought not discipline from the face of the Lord,' implying he wanted relief without repentance. Catholic readers might see here a caution against spiritual complacency, using the means of healing but forgetting the Healer. Some early interpretations suggest the physicians were pagan Egyptians, which makes the contrast sharper. Yet all traditions note that Asa's earlier trust in God had slipped away little by little. The passage invites every reader to examine where their first confidence lies.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, notice where your first impulse turns when trouble comes. A health scare, a financial worry, a broken relationship, do you reach for the phone before you pray? Asa forgot that the same God who gave him victory over Ethiopia could handle a foot disease. You do not have to choose between prayer and medicine, between trust and treatment. But you can ask yourself: am I depending on the means, or on the God behind them? Make prayer your first reflex, not your last resort.
Main takeaway: Even in sickness, seek the Lord above all else; do not let human help replace your complete dependence on God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Asa was very sick in his feet, but he didn't ask God to help him. He only asked the doctors. God wants you to talk to Him when you are hurting or scared. You can always pray to God, no matter what.
For ages 9, 12
Asa started as a great king who trusted God. But later, when he got really sick, he only went to doctors and did not pray. He forgot that God was the one who could really heal him. This is a warning for us: even if we are good at trusting God in big things, we can slowly drift away. When you face something hard, pray first, not as a last choice.
Questions People Ask
Did Asa sin by going to a doctor?
No, the Bible doesn't forbid medical help. The sin was that he 'did not seek Yahweh' at all. He trusted only in the physicians and ignored God.
What does 'slept with his fathers' mean?
It is an Old Testament way of saying that he died peacefully and was buried with his ancestors. It does not mean his soul slept, but his body rested in the family tomb.
Why did they make a great fire and burn spices for Asa?
This was a funeral honor, not cremation. They burned aromatic spices in his honor, a sign of respect even though he had failed in his faith. Some commentators compare it to a state funeral.
How does this passage compare to the account in 1 Kings 15?
1 Kings gives a shorter version. The Chronicler adds the detail about Asa's severe disease and his failure to seek God. The longer account highlights the spiritual lesson.
Did Asa repent before he died?
The text does not say. But the Chronicler still calls him a good king overall (2 Chronicles 15:17), and his honorable funeral leaves open the possibility that he may have turned back.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study