CHAPTER XV _Azariah's prophecy concerning Israel, and his exhortation to_ _Asa_, 1-7. _Asa completes the reformation which he had begun, his kingdom_ _is greatly strengthened, and all to people make a solemn_ _covenant with the Lord_, 8-15. _His treatment of his mother Maachah_, 16. _He bring... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:2. _THE LORD IS WITH YOU, WHILE YE BE WITH HIM_] This is the settled and eternal purpose of God; to them who seek him he will ever be found propitious, and them alone will he abandon who forsake him. In this verse the unconditional perseverance of the saints has no place: a doc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:3. _NOW FOR A LONG SEASON ISRAEL_] "Israel hath followed Jeroboam, and they have not worshipped the true God. They have burnt incense to their golden calves; their priestlings [כומריא _cumeraiya_, their _black, sooty sacrificers_] have burnt perfumes with a strange worship, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:5. _BUT GREAT VEXATIONS_] Does not our Lord allude to this and the following verse in Matthew 24:6; Matthew 24:9; Matthew 24:13?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:8. _RENEWED THE ALTAR_] Dedicated it _afresh_, or perhaps _enlarged_ it, that more sacrifices might be offered on it than ever before; for it cannot be supposed that this altar had no victims offered on it till the _fifteenth_ year of the reign of Asa, who had previously been s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:9. _AND THE STRANGERS_] Many out of the different tribes, particularly out of _Simeon, Ephraim_, and _Manasseh_, having reflected that the Divine blessing was promised to the house of David, and finding the government of Jeroboam founded in idolatry, would naturally, through a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:10. _THE THIRD MONTH_] At the feast of _pentecost_ which was held on the _third_ month.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:11. _THE SPOIL WHICH THEY HAD BROUGHT_] The spoil which they had taken from Zerah and his auxiliaries, 2 Chronicles 14:14; 2 Chronicles 14:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:12. _THEY ENTERED INTO A COVENANT_] The covenant consisted of _two_ parts: 1. We will seek the God of our fathers with all our heart, and with all our soul. 2. Whosoever, great or small, man or woman, will not worship the true God, and serve him alone, shall be put to death.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:16. _CONCERNING MAACHAH_] See the matter fully explained in _Clarke's note on "_1 Kings 15:13_"_. The Jews imagine that Maachah repented, and her name became changed into _Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah_; and that this was done that there might be no mention of her form... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:17. _THE HIGH PLACES WERE NOT TAKEN AWAY_] He had totally suppressed or destroyed the _idolatry_; but some of the _places,_ _buildings_, or _altars_, he permitted to remain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 15:18. _THE THINGS THAT HIS FATHER HAD DEDICATED_] As it was a custom to dedicate a _part of the spoils taken from an enemy_ to the service and honour of God, it is natural to suppose that Abijah, having so signally overthrown Jeroboam, (2 Chronicles 13:15-14,) had dedicated a par... [ Continue Reading ]
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 undertak... [ Continue Reading ]