2 Chronicles 15

Asa’s Reform

1 The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.

2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law.

4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.

5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.

6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress.

7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of^[a] Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple.

9 Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10 They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

11 At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back.

12 They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.

13 All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.

14 They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.

15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

16 King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

17 Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.

18 He brought into the temple of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.

19 There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

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.

Cross References

• 1. S Numbers 11:25,26; Numbers 24:2; 2 Chronicles 20:14; Numbers 24:20
• 2. ver 4,15; 2 Chronicles 20:17
• 3. James 4:8
• 4. 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 78:34; Isaiah 45:19; Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13; Hosea 3:5
• 5. S Deuteronomy 31:17; S 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 24:20
• 6. S Leviticus 10:11
• 7. 2 Chronicles 17:9; Lamentations 2:9; Amos 8:11
• 8. S Deuteronomy 4:29
• 9. S Judges 5:6; Judges 19:20; Zechariah 8:10
• 10. Isaiah 19:2; Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:10
• 11. Joshua 1:7,9
• 12. 1 Samuel 24:19; Psalms 18:20; Psalms 58:11; Proverbs 14:14; Jeremiah 31:16
• 13. 1 Kings 15:12
• 14. 2 Chronicles 17:2; 2 Chronicles 13:19
• 15. S 1 Kings 8:64; S 2 Chronicles 8:12
• 16. 2 Chronicles 11:16-17
• 17. S Leviticus 23:15-21
• 18. S 2 Chronicles 14:13
• 19. S 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 23:16; 2 Chronicles 34:31
• 20. S 1 Chronicles 16:11
• 21. S Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 13:9-16
• 22. Deuteronomy 4:29
• 23. S 1 Chronicles 22:9; 2 Chronicles 14:7
• 24. 2 Chronicles 13:2
• 25. S 1 Kings 2:19
• 26. S Exodus 34:13; 2 Chronicles 14:2-5
• 27. S 2 Samuel 15:23
• 28. S 2 Chronicles 14:13

Footnotes

• [a]. Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint and verse 1); Hebrew does not have "Azariah son of" .

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.