2 Chronicles 15:19

Verse 2 Chronicles 15:19. _THE FIVE AND THIRTIETH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF ASA_] Archbishop Usher thinks that this should be counted from the _separation_ of the kingdom, and that this fell on the _fifteenth_ year of Asa's reign. To settle in every respect these chronologies is a most difficult undertaking; and the difficulty does not belong to the _sacred books_ alone, all other chronological tables of _all_ the nations in the world, are in the same predicament. With those of our own history I have often been puzzled, even while I had access to all the archives of the nation. Probably we should read here _the five and twentieth year_. See the margin, and 1 Kings 15:16....

THE FIVE AND THIRTIETH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF ASA - This cannot be reconciled with the chronqlogy of Kings 1 Kings 16:8 : and the suggestion in the marg. implies the adoption of a mode of marking time unknown either to himself or any other Scriptural writer. It is supposed that the figures here and in 2 Chronicles 16:1 are corrupt, and that in both verses “twentieth” should replace “thirtieth.” The attack of Baasha would then have been made in the last year of Asa’s reign; and ten years of peace would have followed Asa’s victory over Zerah....

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,...

AND THERE WAS NO MORE WAR UNTO THE THIRTY FIFTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF ASA. That is, from the Ethiopian war to that time; after that there was no war with any foreign enemy; there were animosities and discords, bickerings and hostilities of some sort continually between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, as long as he lived, see 1 Kings 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....

NO MORE WAR. no actual campaign (as in 2 Chronicles 16:1). There was quiet between the two kings (2 Chronicles 14:1), but there was border fighting (as in 1 Kings 15:16; 1 Kings 15:32). See note on 2 Chronicles 14:1. REIGN. kingdom. Compare Numbers 24:7. 1Sa 20:31. 1 Kings 2:12;...

_there was no_more _war_ This statement can be reconciled with 1 Kings 15:16; 1 Kings 15:32 only by interpreting it broadly to mean that nothing serious occurred until the war with Baasha had been going on for several years....

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....