The Second Book of the Chronicles

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.

So 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.

For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law.

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

In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.

Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity.

But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”

Asa’s Reforms

(1 Kings 15:9–15)

When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded

(a)

the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple.

And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

So they gathered together in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from all the plunder they had brought back.

Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.

And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.

They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns.

And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

King Asa also removed his grandmother (b) Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.

And he brought into the house of God the silver and gold articles that he and his father had dedicated.

And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Footnotes

(a)15:8 Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 1 and LXX); Hebrew does not include Azariah son of.

(b)15:16 Hebrew his mother

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

He went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law.

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

In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands.

They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity.

But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.”

Asa’s Reforms

(1 Kings 15:9–15)

When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed the LORD’s altar that was before the LORD’s porch.

He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon; for they came to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

They sacrificed to the LORD in that day, of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep.

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

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

They swore to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with cornets.

All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them. Then the LORD gave them rest all around.

Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

He brought the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into God’s house.

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