_A.M. 3063. B.C. 941._ God's message to Asa, 2 Chronicles 15:1. Idols removed, and the spoil dedicated to God, 2 Chronicles 15:8. Judah makes a covenant with God, 2 Chronicles 15:12. Asa removes his mother, destroys her idol, and brings the dedicated things into the temple, 2 Chronicles 15:16. He h... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Spirit of God came upon Azariah_ Both to instruct him what to say, and to enable him to say it plainly and boldly. _And he went out to meet Asa_ Now returning victorious, with his army, from the war with the Ethiopians. _And he said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa and all Judah_, &c. He does not come... [ Continue Reading ]
_For a long season Israel hath been_, &c. Hebrew, _many days have been to Israel without the true God_, &c. The prophet's design here is evidently to set before them the miserable consequences of forsaking God and his ordinances, and that if they should forsake him, there would be no way of having t... [ Continue Reading ]
_In those times_ When Israel lived in the gross neglect of God and his law; _there was no peace to him that went out_, &c. Men could not go abroad about their private business without great danger; as it was in the days of Shamgar, the events of which time are a good comment on this text, Judges 5:6... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nation was destroyed of nation_ One part of the people of Israel destroyed the other by civil wars; of which see instances, Judges 9:23, &c., and 2 Chronicles 12:1, &c. As all Israel, so the several tribes of them are sometimes called nations.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be ye strong therefore_ Go on resolutely to maintain God's worship, and to root out idolatry, as you have begun to do; for this is the only method of preserving yourselves from such calamities as your predecessors have felt. _And let not your hands be weak_ Be not discouraged with the opposition wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Asa heard these words of Oded the prophet_ Of Azariah, the son of Oded, who was also called by his father's name; _he took courage_ For it required great courage to put away all the idols, to which so great a number of his people were still attached, and among others Maachah, the queen, his mo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And out of Simeon_ For the generality of this tribe, though they had their inheritance out of the portion of Judah, revolted to Jeroboam with the other tribes, as appears from many passages of Scripture. This they might conveniently do, because, as their portion bordered, on one side, on the tribe... [ Continue Reading ]
_They gathered themselves at Jerusalem, in the third month_ Namely, of the sacred year, in which month the feast of weeks, or of pentecost fell; _in the fifteenth year of Asa_ Asa had peace ten years, (2 Chronicles 14:1,) after which, probably, there were some bickerings and skirmishes, which seem t... [ Continue Reading ]
_They offered of the spoil which they had brought_ Taken from Zerah, and his army and allies. _They entered into a covenant_, &c. Repenting that they had violated their engagements to God, and resolving to attend to, and endeavour to fulfil them in future. The matter of this covenant was nothing but... [ Continue Reading ]
_That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel_ Would either worship other gods, or refuse to join with them in the worship of the true God; that was either an obstinate idolater, or an obstinate atheist, _should be put to death_ Which was not a new law of their own making, but an order to pu... [ Continue Reading ]
_And all Judah rejoiced at the oath_ That is, a great number of the people; as such general expressions are frequently to be understood: for, doubtless, there were many dissemblers, and ungodly men, at this time among them. _For they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole de... [ Continue Reading ]
_And also concerning Maachah_ Of this and the following verses, see on 1 Kings 15:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of Asa _ No open, general war, though there were constant bickerings between Judah and Israel upon the frontiers, 1 Kings 15:16. National piety procures national blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]