2 Chronicles 15:3

“Now for a long season Israel [hath been] without the true God, etc.] The fear, worship, and service of him being greatly neglected by them for a long time; what period of time is referred to is not expressed, whether past, present, or to come, but left to be supplied; the Targum refers this to the time of the separation of the ten tribes, and the days of Jeroboam, when the calves were worshipped, and not the true God, and the teaching priests of the Lord were cast out, and the law of the Lord, especially with respect to worship, was not regarded, in which it is followed by many interpreters; others think it refers to time to come, and to what would be the case, should they forsake the Lord;…”

“Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, &c.--Some think that Azariah was referring to the sad and disastrous condition to which superstition and idolatry had brought the neighboring kingdom of Israel. His words should rather be taken in a wider sense, for it seems manifest that the prophet had his eye upon many periods in the national history, when the people were in the state described--a state of spiritual destitution and ignorance--and exhibited its natural result as widespread anarchy, mutual dissension among the tribes, and general suffering (Jdg 9:23; Jdg 12:4; Jdg 20:21; Ch2 13:17). These calamities God permitted to befall them as the punishment of their apostasy.…”

““Israel” here is used generally for the whole people of God; and the reference is especially to the many apostasies in the days of the Judges, which were followed by repentance and deliverance. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Now Israel - They have long lived without the found knowledge and worship of the true God. Israel is here understood of the whole nation of Israel in former times, and especially in the times of the judges: for then many times they were in a great measure, without God and his law, and teaching priests, as plainly appears from the book of the Judges; they were brought to all the exigencies and calamities following; and they sometimes turned to the Lord, and he was found of them. 2 Chronicles 15:5”

“15:3-6 The dark times, described as resulting from the lack of knowing God (cp. Hos 3:4-5), seem best to fit the period of the judges.”

“a long: Kg1 12:28-33; Hos 3:4 true God: Jer 10:10; Joh 17:3; Th1 1:9; Jo1 5:20 a teaching: Ch2 17:8, Ch2 17:9; Lev 10:11; Deu 33:10; Neh 8:9; Eze 44:21-23; Mic 3:11; Mal 2:7; Mat 2:4, Mat 2:5; Ti1 3:2 without law: Rom 2:12, Rom 7:8, Rom 7:9; Co1 9:21 2 Chronicles 15:4”