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2 Chronicles Chapter 15

Old Testament Historical 19 Verses

What is 2 Chronicles 15 about?

Solomon's Temple construction and the history of the Judean kings through Josiah's reformation and the Babylonian exile. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2and he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Jehovah is with you, while ye are with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
3Now for a long season Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law:
4But when in their distress they turned unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
5And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands.
6And they were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God did vex them with all adversity.
7But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.
8And 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 altar of Jehovah, that was before the porch of Jehovah.
9And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and them that sojourned with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Jehovah his God was with him.
10So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11And they sacrificed unto Jehovah in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
12And they entered into the covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;
13and that whosoever would not seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14And they sware unto Jehovah with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15And 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 of them: and Jehovah gave them rest round about.
16And also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
18And 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.
19And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
← 2 Chronicles 142 Chronicles 16 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, etc.] The same with Iddo, as Hillerus f58 thinks; and some suppose this to be the name of the son as well as the father, but called Azariah, to distinguish him from him, (see <141508>2 Chronicles 15:8) on whom came, as the Targum, the spirit of prophecy, instructing him what to say to Asa; and the Jews say f59 he is the same with Iddo, and he the same that was sent to Jeroboam, to reprove him for the altar he built.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“JUDAH MAKES A SOLEMN COVENANT WITH GOD. (Ch2 15:1-15) Azariah the son of Oded--This prophet, who is mentioned nowhere else, appears at this stage of the sacred story in the discharge of an interesting mission. He went to meet Asa, as he was returning from his victorious pursuit of the Ethiopians, and the congratulatory address here recorded was publicly made to the king in presence of his army.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Oded is by some identified with Iddo, the prophet and historian of the two preceding reigns. In the Hebrew the two names differ very slightly. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Spirit of God - Both to instruct him what to say, and to enable him to say it plainly and boldly. 2 Chronicles 15:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“15:1-7 The prophet Azariah is unknown outside of this passage. His speech to King Asa and the people of Judah also served as the Chronicler’s own message to the people of Judah following the Exile: The Lord will be with his people, he will be found by those who seek him, and he will reward their obedience.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“the Spirit: Ch2 20:14, Ch2 24:20; Num 24:2; Jdg 3:10; Sa2 23:2; Pe2 1:21 2 Chronicles 15:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The prophet Azariah's exhortation to faithful cleaving to the Lord, and the solemn renewal of the covenant. - Ch2 15:1-7. The prophet's speech. The prophet Azariah, the son of Oded, is mentioned only here. The conjecture of some of the older theologians, that עודד was the same person as עדּו ( Ch2 12:15; Ch2 9:29), has no tenable foundation. Azariah went to meet the king and people returning from the war (לפני יצא, he went forth in the presence of Asa, i.e., coming before him; cf. Ch2 28:9; Ch1 12:17; Ch1 14:8). "Jahve was with you (has given you the victory), because ye were with Him (held to Him)." Hence the…”
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