The Prophecy of Azariah
The prophet Azariah is not mentioned elsewhere. His...
The prophet Azariah is not mentioned elsewhere. His speech to King Asa and the people of Judah also conveyed the Chronicler’s message to the people of Judah after the exile in Babylon: The Lord will stay with his people, he will be found by those who seek him, and he will reward their obedience.
1Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
The dark times, caused by not knowing God...
The dark times, caused by not knowing God (see Hosea 3:4–5), likely refer to the period of the judges.
3For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law. 4But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him, and He was found by them. 5In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts. 6Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God afflicted them with all kinds of adversity. 7But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
Asa’s Reforms
The Chronicler described Asa’s response using the prophet’s...
The Chronicler described Asa’s response using the prophet’s exact words, but Asa's actions exceeded the general advice. When Asa heard the prophecy, he bravely started a wide-ranging reform. He began by removing the offensive idols that had returned to the land (see 2 Chronicles 14:5). Complete trust in God had won the war against the Cushites, and fully renewing the covenant brought peace to the promised land (2 Chronicles 15:15).
8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded† the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. 9And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
The covenant renewal ceremony in the third month...
The covenant renewal ceremony in the third month likely took place during the Festival of Harvest, also known as Pentecost. This major festival attracted large crowds to the temple from nearby areas. Disloyalty to the covenant was seen as treason and was punishable by death (Deuteronomy 17:2–7). The sacrifices were offerings dedicated from the victory over Zerah (2 Chronicles 14:15).
10So they gathered together in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. 11At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from all the plunder they had brought back. 12Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. 13And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns. 15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
16King Asa also removed his grandmother† Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 17The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days. 18And he brought into the house of God the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated.
19And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.