2 Chronicles 15

The Prophet Azariah Warns Asa

1 Now ¹the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded,

2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: ²the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And ³if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

3 "⁴For many days Israel was without the true God and without ⁵a teaching priest and without law.

4 "But ⁶in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him.

5 "⁷In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.

6 "⁸Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.

7 "But you, ⁹be strong and do not lose * courage *, for there is ¹⁰reward 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 ¹¹the cities which he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. ¹²He 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 ¹³who 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 ¹⁴They sacrificed to the LORD that day 700 * oxen and 7,000 * sheep from the spoil they had brought.

12 ¹⁵They 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 ¹⁶should 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 ¹⁷the LORD gave them rest on every side.

16 ¹⁸He also removed Maacah, the mother of King Asa, from the position of queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as ¹⁹an Asherah, and ²⁰Asa 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.

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2 Chronicles 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

The people make a solemn covenant with God.

- The work of complete reformation appeared so difficult, that Asa had not courage to attempt it, till assured of Divine assistance and acceptance. He and his people offered sacrifices to God; thanksgiving for the favours they had received, and supplication for further favours. Prayers and praises are now our spiritual sacrifices. The people, of their own will, covenanted to seek the Lord, each for himself, with earnestness. What is religion but seeking God, inquiring after him, applying to him upon all occasions? We make nothing of our religion, if we do not make heart-work of it; God will have all the heart, or none. Our devotedness to God our Saviour, should be avowed and shown in the most solemn and public manner. What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 20

1. 2 Chronicles 20:14; 2 Chronicles 24:20
2. 2 Chronicles 20:17
3. 2 Chronicles 15:4, 15
4. 1 Kings 12:28-33
5. Leviticus 10:8-11; 2 Chronicles 17:9
6. Deuteronomy 4:29
7. Judges 5:6
8. Matthew 24:7
9. Joshua 1:7, 9
10. Psalms 58:11
11. 2 Chronicles 13:19
12. 2 Chronicles 4:1; 2 Chronicles 8:12
13. 2 Chronicles 11:16
14. 2 Chronicles 14:13-15
15. 2 Chronicles 23:16
16. Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 13:6-9
17. 2 Chronicles 14:7
18. 1 Kings 15:13-15
19. Exodus 34:13
20. 2 Chronicles 14:2-5

Footnotes 6

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

Chapter Summary

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