2 Chronicles 15:8-19

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 ¹the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. ²He 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 ³who 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 ⁴They sacrificed to the LORD that day 700 * oxen and 7,000 * sheep from the spoil they had brought.

12 ⁵They 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 ⁶should 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 ⁷the LORD gave them rest on every side.

16 ⁸He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as ⁹an Asherah, and ¹⁰Asa 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.

18 He brought into the house of God the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils.

19 And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth * year of Asa's reign.

2 Chronicles 15:8-19 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.

Cross References

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

Footnotes

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