2. Silver and gold. The Temple and palace treasures, depleted after Shishak’s raid ( 12:9), had only recently been replenished by the spoils of war ( 15:18), but now they were taken away again, and this by a voluntary act of the king. Asa had previously gained a great victory as a result of placing his confidence in God and crying to Him for help ( 14:11, 12); now his faith failed him and he turned to a heathen king for assistance. Even men with long records of faithful service may mar their records by looking at the difficulties of the present and failing to place their trust in God.
