Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded.
Verse 1. Azarias is called Oded in Hebrews 5:8. Calmet.—But he was his son. Bible.—There was a high priest of the name of Azarias, about the same time. Menochius.
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.
Verse 2. With him. He will continue thus to protect you, if you prove faithful. The Pelagians hence inferred, that man was to prepare his own heart for the reception of grace. But the text only speaks of external aid; and though it were understood of internal grace, ( Calmet.) we may merit an increase of grace, by a faithful co-operation ( Worthington.) with that which God has presented us. E. Calmet.
Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law.
Verse 3. Shall pass, is not found in Hebrew and so forth and many supply, “had been.” D.—The Jews, and some interpreters, would explain all this of what had passed already; ( Calmet.) and this is the idea of the Prot. “Now, for a long season, Israel hath been without,” and so forth Bible.—But the conclusion convinces us that this is a prediction; (verse 7) take courage. You shall not be involved in these miseries. Some explain the whole of the kingdom of Israel, which, from its commencement till after its final ruin, persevered in its rebellion against the true God. Sanctius.—Others think the kingdom of Juda was also concerned, and its state of captivity at Babylon foretold. Lyran.—But its full completion includes the latter ages, particularly after the murder of the Messias, ( Tirinus.) and seems of the same nature as the prophecy of Osee, (3:4) as our Saviour himself insinuates. Matthew 24:6. 9. 13. Calmet.
But when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.
Verse 4. And when. Septuagint “and he shall convert them to the Lord, … and shall be found by them.” Bible.—This will be verified in the last days. Romans 11:26. Menochius.
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.
Verse 5. Cometh in, in public or private transactions. See Leviticus 26:36.
They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity.
Verse 6. Nation, both in the times of Baasa, who fought against Asa, and afterwards. For the same prophecy may be literally explained of more thing than one. Menochius.—Distress. Our Saviour says, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and so forth But he that shall persevere to the end, shall be saved.
But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.”
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.
Verse 8. Azarias, the son, is omitted in Hebrew and the Vat. Septuagint which reads Adad, ( Bible.) but it is supplied in the other editions, and in the Syriac, ( Calmet.) as verse 1. Bible.—Taken: we do not read on what occasion. Calmet. 17:2. His father had seized upon Bethel, and so forth Calmet. 13:19. Calmet.—Yet Asa waged war himself with the king of Israel.—Dedicated. Septuagint “renewed,” as the altar had been neglected, or injured by the continual fire; ( Menochius.) or this was the extraordinary ( Bible.) altar, which Solomon had used at the dedication of the temple. The multitude of Asa’s victims required more than one, verse 11. It is not probable that God’s worship had been neglected till the 15th year of this pious king, (verse 9) since even his wicked father was punctual in this respect. Calmet. 13:11. Before, at the higher end of the priests’ court, to the east of the altar of holocausts. Calmet.
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.
Verse 9. Simeon. This tribe was intimately connected with that of Juda, though many had revolted. Some afterwards returned, as they did from other parts, actuated either by motives of interest or of religion. Calmet. 34:6. 3 Kennicott. 11:13. Calmet.
So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.
Verse 10. Month, Sivan, or May, when the feast of Pentecost occurs. Menochius.
They sacrificed to the LORD in that day, from the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep.
Verse 11. Spoils, which they had sold, and now testified their gratitude. Tirinus.—Rams. Prot. “sheep.”
They entered into the covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;
Verse 12. He went. Hebrew and Septuagint “They proceeded, according to the covenant, to seek.” Bible.—They swore upon the altar, or passed between the divided victims. Genesis 15:9. 17. Calmet.—This solemn act was usual, and more necessary in times of trouble. Menochius.
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.
Verse 13. Said he, is not in Hebrew and so forth Bible.—Die, according to Deuteronomy 17:7.
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.
Verse 15. Curse. Hebrew “oath.” Menochius.—Septuagint “all Juda rejoiced on account of the oath.” Bible.
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.
Verse 16. Mother, or grandmother. Calmet.—There were perhaps two of the name, and Abia had married one as well as Roboam. Menochius.—Deposed, and so forth Hebrew “from being queen.” Septuagint “he removed Maacha, … that she should not minister to Astarte; and he cut the idol in pieces, and burnt it,” and so forth Bible.—Syr. “because she had celebrated a feast to idols.” But it seems she had set up a stone, which Asa burnt. See 3 Kennicott. 15:13. Calmet.—Priapus is added by the Vulg. to explain Hebrew “the idol of, or in the grove,” ( Bible.) Asera or Astarte. Calmet.
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
Verse 17. Israel, to the honour only of the true God. Calmet. 14:2 and 3 Kennicott. 15:14. Bible.—Perfect, with respect to the external worship, ( Tirinus.) or hitherto, ( Bible.) though he offended afterwards. Calmet. 16:7. 12. Tirinus.—Other altars, besides that at Jerusalem, might be dispensed with, ( Worthington.) by God’s authority. Bible.
He brought the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into God’s house.
Verse 18. Vowed, in the wars against Jeroboam and Zara. See 1 Chronicles 26:27.
There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.
Verse 19. Year. Usher dates from the separation of the two kingdoms; and this year corresponds with the 15th of Asa, verse 10. See 3 Kennicott. 15:16. Calmet. Torniel, A. 3094.