2 Chronicles 16:14
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While the verse mentions "a very great fire," it's easy to overlook that this wasn't a funeral pyre for cremation, but a symbolic display of honor, perhaps akin to a grand procession with torches or a ceremonial bonfire. This detail highlights the immense wealth and effort invested in Asa's burial, underscoring the cultural importance of outward shows of respect for rulers, even if their spiritual state was flawed.
They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes the death and elaborate funeral of King Asa. Following a serious illness and a conflict with Israel, Asa had sought help from an Aramean king rather than relying on the Lord, an act the prophet Hanani pointed out. His funeral, marked by an unusually large fire and spiced burial, contrasts sharply with the spiritual decline that characterized the end of his reign.
King Asa's funeral was grand, a spectacle of spices and fire. But what does this lavish send-off truly reveal about his reign and his heart toward God?
The text describes a funeral fitting for a great king – filled with fragrant spices and a significant fire, signifying honor and remembrance. However, this outward display contrasts sharply with the spiritual reality of Asa's later life.
The Contrast:
Asa began his reign with incredible faithfulness, even removing idolatrous practices. But in his final years, he relied on human strength and alliances rather than seeking God's help when he was ill. This funeral, while grand, underscores the tragedy of a life that ended with a divided heart, seeking earthly comforts and honors when he had previously prioritized divine trust.
King Asa didn't just die; he was buried in a tomb he himself had prepared. What does this self-prepared resting place signify about his perspective on life and death?
The phrase 'the tomb that he had cut for himself' is striking. It speaks to a king who, in his power and foresight, planned for his own eternal resting place. This action itself isn't inherently wrong; many rulers built elaborate tombs.
However, in the context of Asa's life story, it can be seen as symbolic of his tendency to rely on his own provisions and plans, even in his final moments. While he commanded resources to build his tomb, the deeper need was for a prepared heart, one continually yielded to God, not just physically laid to rest in self-made security. It's a reminder that our ultimate security and preparation should be for eternity with God, not just for a physical resting place.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
qeber · Hebrew Noun
The place where a deceased person is interred. In the biblical narrative, burials are significant markers of legacy and the hope of resurrection.
besamim · Hebrew Noun
Aromatic substances used for embalming or honoring the dead. The use of spices reflects the high status of the deceased and serves as a cultural act of respect during mourning.
The account of Asa's burial highlights a king known for his initial zeal for God, but who ultimately failed to trust fully in Him, especially in his final years. His lavish funeral reflects a mixture of royal honor and perhaps a subtle critique of his reliance on human means over divine ones.
931 BC
Kingdom Divides
After the death of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes, including Judah and Benjamin). This division sets the stage for centuries of conflict and differing spiritual paths.
c. 911-875 BC
Reign of Asa in Judah
Asa, the great-grandson of Solomon, reigns as king of Judah. He is known for his initial faithfulness to God, removing idolatry and even deposing his own grandmother for making an idol.
c. 875 BC
Reign of Baasha of Israel
Baasha, king of the northern Kingdom of Israel, wages war against Judah, attempting to cut off Jerusalem. This conflict marks a period of ongoing tension and warfare between the divided kingdoms.
c. 873 BC
Asa Hires Aram
Facing pressure from Baasha, King Asa of Israel, instead of relying on God, makes an alliance with Ben-Hadad I of Aram (Syria). He sends temple silver and gold to secure military aid against Israel.
c. 872 BC— this verse
King Asa's Illness and Death
Later in his reign, Asa is afflicted with a severe foot disease. The text emphasizes that he sought physicians rather than the Lord. He dies after reigning for 41 years.
This verse records the end of David's reign, highlighting the continuity of royal burial practices and the transfer of kingship, setting the stage for the splendor and, at times, the folly of subsequent rulers like Asa.
Jeremiah 22:18-19The prophet Jeremiah condemns kings who pursue extravagant lifestyles and foretells a dishonorable burial, contrasting sharply with the grand, albeit perhaps misguided, funeral honors given to Asa, suggesting a different kind of legacy.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11Solomon's reflection on the vanity of worldly pursuits, including building grand structures and amassing wealth, resonates with Asa's self-serving tomb construction, questioning the ultimate value of such earthly endeavors.
Matthew 26:12This passage describes Mary anointing Jesus with expensive perfume, a practice that echoes the elaborate spiced burial preparations mentioned for Asa, showing how costly acts of devotion and remembrance have been a theme throughout biblical history.
While the verse mentions "a very great fire," it's easy to overlook that this wasn't a funeral pyre for cremation, but a symbolic display of honor, perhaps akin to a grand procession with torches or a ceremonial bonfire. This detail highlights the immense wealth and effort invested in Asa's burial, underscoring the cultural importance of outward shows of respect for rulers, even if their spiritual state was flawed.
This passage describes the death and elaborate funeral of King Asa. Following a serious illness and a conflict with Israel, Asa had sought help from an Aramean king rather than relying on the Lord, an act the prophet Hanani pointed out. His funeral, marked by an unusually large fire and spiced burial, contrasts sharply with the spiritual decline that characterized the end of his reign.
This passage describes the death and elaborate funeral of King Asa. Following a serious illness and a conflict with Israel, Asa had sought help from an Aramean king rather than relying on the Lord, an act the prophet Hanani pointed out. His funeral, marked by an unusually large fire and spiced burial, contrasts sharply with the spiritual decline that characterized the end of his reign.
"They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor." — While the verse mentions "a very great fire," it's easy to overlook that this wasn't a funeral pyre for cremation, but a symbolic display of honor, perhaps akin to a grand procession with torches or…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
