2 Chronicles 15

Azaria the Prophet exhorteth Asa and the people, to go on in the Reformation of Religion already begun, v.1. &c. which exhortation they obey, 8. And renew the covenant with the Lord, 12. Asa deposeth Maacha his mother from her regency, because of her idolatry, 16. He bringeth the hallowed things again into the Temple, 18. The land hath rest, 19.

1. Then the spirit of God came upon Azaria the son of Oded. [A Prophet, called before (according to the common opinion) Jedi, above chap.9.29. and Iddo, above chap.12.15. And he is to be distinguished from another Prophet called Oded, who lived in the time of king Hizkia, below ch.28.9. In the Hebrew the words run thus: And Azaria the son of Oded, the spirit of God was upon him.]

2. And he went out [To wit, out of Jerusalem] toward Asa, [Heb. before the face of Asa: that is, toward Asa, or to meet Asa. So 1 Chron.12.17. and below chap.28.9. He went to meet the King, when he returned to Jerusalem from the defeat of the Moors] and he said unto him; hear me, Asa, and all Juda and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, [that is, he helpeth you, and giveth you victory your Enemies. See above chap.14.v.12,13,14. And compare Deut.20.1. Jos.1.5. Psa.118.6. Jerem.20.15, &c. This may be also translated in the future tense: The LORD shall, or, will be with you, &c. O. in the preterperfectense: The LORD hath been with you] while ye are with him: [That is, while ye stand for his pure worship, and destroy idolatry] And if ye seek him, [see above chap.11.on v.16.] he will be found of you, [Heb. be found unto you, or, for you. So below v.4. and 5. That is, actually assist you with his grace, help and comfort. So Deut.4.29. Prov.8.17. Isa.55.6. Jer.29.13,14.] but if ye forsake him, [see above chap.12.on v.2.] he will forsake you. [that is, actually withdraw his grace, help and comfort from you. So below chapter 24. Verse.20. Psalms 71:9,11.]

3. Now Israel hath been many days without the true God, [Heb. the God of truth. That is, without the public pure worship of God] and without a teaching Priests, and without the Law. [some take this to be meant of the twelve tribes in general, in the time of the Judges, etc. Others apply it to the ten tribes, and their state and condition, from the time that they revolted from the house of David. See 1 Kings 12:28,29,30, etc.]

4. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

5. And in those (times) there was no peace [that is, it went not well in Israel] to him that went out, not to him that came in: [understand those that dwelling in Israel, were to go from one place to another, and those that came in from other places abroad, to converse and trade there a while] but many disturbances were upon all the inhabitants of those lands; [to wit, that were under Israel. See the book of Judges, and 1 Kings 14:10,11. And 15.27.29. and chap.16.]

6. (So) that people against people, and city against city were dashed in pieces: [i.e. so that they were oppressed by divers Enemies in the time of the Judges, and by home-bred divisions crushed, brake in pieces, and destroyed one another, after they were separated from Juda. Others take the 3.4,5, and 6. Verses, to be as it were a prophecy of future times. Compare it with Hos.3.4,5, etc.] for God had terrified them [to wit, the Israelites] with all adversity. [see 1 Kings 16:21.]

7. Therefore be ye strong, [That is, go on courageously in reforming and restoring the true and pure worship of God, taking warning by the forementioned examples] and let not your hands grow slack: [see the explaining of this phrase, 2 Sam.4.on v.1.] For there is reward according to your work. [to wit, not in regard of the worth or desert of the work which they owed unto God; but in regard of the grace, mercy, and favour of God, who hath promised to reward the good works of those that belong unto him for Christs sake.]

8. Now when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of the Prophet Oded, [Above v.1. this prophecy is ascribed or attributed to Azaria the son of Oded: therefore this Prophet must have either had two names, or else this prophecy was not only his, but also his Fathers, who (as some conceive) lived at the same time] he strengthened himself, and he put away the abominations [that is the abominable images, that were yet somewhere left, either in public or private places and houses. See of some of these abominations, 1 Kings 11:7. and 2 King.23.13.] out of all the land of Juda, and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, [See above chap.13.19.] and renewed the altar of the LORD [together with the court of the Priests, (as is conceived) wherein the altar stood: which court is therefore called the new court, below chap.20.vers.5.] which was before the porch of the LORD. [see 1 kings 6.on vers.3. item above chap.3,4. And below chap.29 7.]

9. And he gathered all Juda and Benjamin [that is, all those that belonged to these two tribes] and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon; for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, [to wit, from the Kings of Israel, with whom through hatred of their idolatry they would have no fellowship] when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10. And they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem, in the third month, [Called Sivan, Esth.8.9. almost agreeing with our May. In this month the feast of Pentecost fell, of which see the command of God, Exod.23.16. and 34.22. and Deut.16.9.] in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

11. And they offered unto the LORD the same day of the prey which they had brought, [To wit, out of the battle against the Moors. See above chap.14.v.13,14,15.] seven hundred oxen, and seven thousand sheep.

12. And they entered into a covenant, [This phrase seemeth to point at the use, formerly practiced in the making of covenants. There were certain beasts slain, and these were afterward cut in pieces, thorough the midst whereof the confederates went, etc. See hereof further, Gen.15.on vers.17.] to seek the LORD God of their Fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul. [see 1 Kings 2.on v.4.]

13. And whosoever would not seek the LORD the God of Israel, should be put to death, from the small to the great; from the man to the woman.

14. And they sware unto the LORD with a loud [Heb. great] voice, and with shouting: [That is, sound of joy. So 1 Sam.4.6. 2 Sam.6.15. Ezra.3.11.] likewise with trumpets, and with corners.

15. And all Juda rejoiced at this oath: For they had sworn with all their heart, [See 1 Kings 2.on ver.4.] and sought him with all their will, and he was found of them, [see above on vers 2.] and the LORD gave them rest round about.

16. Also concerning Maacha the mother of King Asa, [Meaning his grand-mother, his father Abia’s mother, Rehabeams widow, 1 Kings 15 2. And above chap.13.2. where she is called Michaja] he [namely, Asa] deposed her, that she should be no Queen because she had made an abominable idol [Hebr. Miphlezeth. See of this idol 1 Kings 15. On ver.13.] in a grove: Also Asa destroyed her abominable idol, and stamped (it), and burnt (it) at the brook Kidron. [see 1 Kings 2.on v.37.]

17. The high place indeed were not taken away out of Israel, [The high places indeed were for the most part taken away out Juda, above chap.14.5. but not out of Israel, that is, out of the land of Israel, that was under K.Asa. By Israel then in this place must be understood the countries, cities, and people, that of the Kingdom of Israel were under Juda: Of which see above chap.13.19. and here v.8.9. an compare below chap.17.2. and 19.4. and 21.2, and 4.] yet the heart of Asa was perfect. [how this perfection is to be understood, see 1 Kings 15.on v.14.]

18. And he brought into the house of God the hallowed things [see Lev.5.on vers.15.] of his father, and his (own) hallowed things, silver, and gold, and vessels.

19. And there was no war [To wit, between Asa and the kingdom of Israel] unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa. [that is, of the Kingdom of Juda, as it was divided from the Kingdom of Israel, whereof Asa was now King, for here are not expressed the years that Asa reigned, but the years that the Kingdom, of Judalasted, after the ten tribes were revolted from it. The years are thus counted: Rehabeam reigned seventeen years, above chap.12.13. Abia his son three years, ab. Chap.13.2. hereunto added fifteenth years of Asa’s reign, above vers.10. they make in all five and thirty years.]