The Second Book of the Chronicles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

Then the Spirite of God came vpon Azariah the sonne of Obed.

And he went out to meete Asa, and said vnto him, O Asa, and all Iudah, and Beniamin, heare ye me. The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: and if ye seeke him, he wil be founde of you, but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

Nowe for a long season Israel hath bene without the true God, and without Priest to teach and without Lawe.

But whosoeuer returned in his affliction to the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was founde of them.

And in that time there was no peace to him, that did goe out and goe in: but great troubles were to all the inhabitants of the earth.

For nation was destroyed of nation, and citie of citie: for God troubled them with all aduersitie.

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your handes be weake: for your worke shall haue a rewarde.

Asa’s Reforms

(1 Kings 15:9–15)

And when Asa heard these wordes, and the prophesie of Obed the Prophet, he was encouraged, and tooke away the abominations out of all the lande of Iudah, and Beniamin, and out of the cities which he had taken of mount Ephraim, and he renued the altar of the Lord, that was before the porche of the Lord.

And he gathered all Iudah and Beniamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for there fell many to him out of Israel, when they sawe that the Lord his God was with him.

So they assembled to Ierusalem in the third moneth, in the fifteenth yere of the reigne of Asa.

And they offred vnto the Lord the same time of the spoyle, which they had brought, euen seuen hundreth bullockes, and seuen thousande sheepe.

And they made a couenant to seeke the Lord God of their fathers, with all their heart, and with all their soule.

And whosoeuer will not seeke the Lord God of Israel, shalbe slaine, whether he were small or great, man or woman.

And they sware vnto the Lord with a loude voyce, and with shouting and with trumpets, and with cornets.

And all Iudah reioyced at the othe: for they had sworne vnto the Lord with all their heart, and sought him with a whole desire, and he was founde of them. And the Lord gaue them rest rounde about.

And King Asa deposed Maachah his mother from her regencie, because she had made an idole in a groue: and Asa brake downe her idole, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brooke Kidron.

But the hie places were not taken away out of Israel: yet the heart of Asa was perfit all his dayes.

Also he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicate, and that he had dedicate, siluer, and golde, and vessels.

And there was no warre vnto the fiue and thirtieth yeere of the reigne of Asa.

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.