2 Chronicles 15:18

_AND HE BROUGHT INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD THE THINGS THAT HIS FATHER HAD DEDICATED, AND THAT HE HIMSELF HAD DEDICATED, SILVER, AND GOLD, AND VESSELS._ The things that his father had dedicated - probably part of the booty obtained by his signal victory over Jeroboam, but which, though dedicated, had hitherto been unpresented. AND THAT HE HIMSELF HAD DEDICATED - of the booty taken from the Ethiopians. Both of these were now deposited in the temple as votive offerings to Him whose right hand and holy arm had gives them the victory....

Verse 2 Chronicles 15:18. _THE THINGS THAT HIS FATHER HAD DEDICATED_] As it was a custom to dedicate a _part of the spoils taken from an enemy_ to the service and honour of God, it is natural to suppose that Abijah, having so signally overthrown Jeroboam, (2 Chronicles 13:15-14,) had dedicated a part of the spoils to the Lord; but they had not been brought into the temple till this time. _SILVER, AND GOLD, AND VESSELS._] The word כלים _kelim_, which we translate _vessels_, signifies _instruments, utensils, ornaments_, c....

EXPOSITION This chapter is something like an oasis in our history, and was perhaps such in the real life of Asa also. Presumably it covers a period of some twenty years. Reading between the lines, and indeed chapters, we may very well suppose that the mission of "Azariah son of Oded" to Asa now was one of all mercy. Great salvation had been shown to him and his people, and as time went on they might forget the Saviour, and imagine the work was all their own. Moreover, their own proper work had tarried, and beside caution and humility (in season for him as a returning conqueror-king, verse 2), Asa needed stimulus; perhaps the Lord's loving-kindness knew that he needed every kindly encouragement. For there are not wanting signs that he was before his people, and felt the drag of them upon him as Moses himself did. These are the features of the physical geography, so to say, of the chapter,...

2 Chronicles 15:16....

CHAPTER 15 THE REIGN OF ASA, WARNING AND REFORMATION _ 1. The warning message of Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1)_ 2. Asa's response and reformation (2 Chronicles 15:8) But the Lord knew the danger which threatened Asa. He had begun well. He was faithful to Jehovah, and he and the people had a wonderful demonstration that the Lord hears and answers prayer. Would he continue and end as well as he had begun? The Spirit of God came at this important time upon Azariah (whom the Lord helps). When victorious Asa returned the prophet met him and delivered his message. It was a needed and timely message, for the danger for God's people is always the greatest after a victory is won and outward success and prosperity is enjoyed. “The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; an

The words of Azariah the son of Oded (not mentioned elsewhere) form a kind of introduction to the account of Asa's religious reforms; if the words in 2 Chronicles 15:3 refer to any definite period, it must be to that of the Judges, for the description of the state of the nation does not agree with any other period recorded in the OT. The whole of this section, however, reads like a midrashic expansion of 1 Kings 15:11....

THINGS... DEDICATED. holy things. See note on Exodus 3:5....

the things _that his father had dedicated_ Probably _spoils of war_; cp. 1 Chronicles 18:11. The verse seems to say that Abijah had wowed a portion of his spoils, but that Asa first actually presented them in the Temple. May we not take the passage (which occurs also in 1 Kin.) as an indirect confirmation of Abijah's victory (2 Chronicles 13)?...

4. THE REIGN OF ASA (14-16) TEXT 2 Chronicles 14:1. So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. 2. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God: 3. for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, 4. and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5. Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6. And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest. 7, For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the

REIGN OF ASA (CONTINUED) An account of how Asa, moved by the prophet Azariah, made a covenant to seek.the LORD. This chapter is almost entirely supplementary to what is recorded of Asa in 1 Kings 15....