2 Chronicles 16:8 (DRB)

Passage

Were not the Ethiopians, and the Libyans much more numerous in chariots, and horsemen, and an exceeding great multitude: yet because thou trustedst in the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand?

Nearby Context

2 Chronicles 16:6 Then king Asa took all Juda, and they carried away from Rama the stones, and the timber that Baasa had prepared for the building: and he built with them Gabaa, and Maspha.

2 Chronicles 16:7 At that time Hanani the prophet came to Asa king of Juda, and said to him: Because thou hast had confidence in the king of Syria, and not in the Lord thy God, therefore hath the army of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.

2 Chronicles 16:8 Were not the Ethiopians, and the Libyans much more numerous in chariots, and horsemen, and an exceeding great multitude: yet because thou trustedst in the Lord, he delivered them into thy hand?

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord behold all the earth, and give strength to those who with a perfect heart trust in him. Wherefore thou hast done foolishly, and for this cause from this time wars shall arise against thee.

2 Chronicles 16:10 And Asa was angry with the seer, and commanded him to be put in prison: for he was greatly enraged because of this thing: and he put to death many of the people at that time.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ethiopians", "libyans", "much", "numerous", "chariots", "horsemen", "exceeding", and "great". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ethiopians" and "libyans", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "At that time Hanani the prophet came..." into verse 9's "For the eyes of the Lord behold...", so "ethiopians" and "libyans" belong inside that flow. In 2 Chronicles context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ethiopians" and "libyans" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.