2 Chronicles 15:7-17

7 "But you, ¹be strong and do not lose * courage *, for there is ²reward for your work."

Asa's Reforms

8 Now when Asa heard these words and the prophecy which Azariah the son of Oded the prophet spoke, he took courage and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from ³the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. ⁴He then restored the altar of the LORD which was in front of the porch of the LORD.

9 He gathered all Judah and Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon ⁵who resided with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10 So they assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth * year of Asa's reign.

11 ⁶They sacrificed to the LORD that day 700 * oxen and 7,000 * sheep from the spoil they had brought.

12 ⁷They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and soul;

13 and whoever * would not seek the LORD God of Israel ⁸should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.

14 Moreover, they made an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with horns.

15 All Judah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had sought Him earnestly *, and He let them find Him. So ⁹the LORD gave them rest on every side.

16 ¹⁰He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as ¹¹an Asherah, and ¹²Asa cut down her horrid image, crushed it and burned it at the brook Kidron.

17 But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa's heart was blameless all his days.

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2 Chronicles 15:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 15

Asa returning from the battle, and with the spoil of the enemy, was met by a prophet of the Lord, who encouraged him to go on with the work of reformation, promising the presence and help of God with him, 2Ch 15:1-7, which inspired him with fresh courage, and he went about the work with great alacrity; and having offered sacrifices, he and his people entered into a solemn covenant with the Lord, to serve him, 2Ch 15:8-15 upon which he destroyed his mother's idol, brought the dedicated things into the house of God, and the effect of this was peace for a long time, 2Ch 15:16-19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 12

1. Joshua 1:7, 9
2. Psalms 58:11
3. 2 Chronicles 13:19
4. 2 Chronicles 4:1; 2 Chronicles 8:12
5. 2 Chronicles 11:16
6. 2 Chronicles 14:13-15
7. 2 Chronicles 23:16
8. Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 13:6-9
9. 2 Chronicles 14:7
10. 1 Kings 15:13-15
11. Exodus 34:13
12. 2 Chronicles 14:2-5

Footnotes 4

[a]. Lit "let your hands drop"
[b]. With several ancient versions; Heb "the prophecy, Oded the prophet"
[c]. Lit "with their whole desire"
[d]. Or for "Asherah"