Camping4ELOAH.COM
Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0II CHRONICLES CHAPTER 15
II Chronicles 14 brought us the death of Rehoboam’s son Abijah, and the ascension of his son Asa as the third man-king of the House of Judah. That set the date for us as being 860B.C., as that is the year in which Asa became king of the House of Judah.
Almost immediately upon Asa’s ascension, we read, “that he did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.”. What was it that he did which was righteous? He started cleaning up the mess that his father Abijah, grand-father Rehoboam, and great great-grandfather Solomon had left the House of Judah in; i.e., he removed all the false gods and idols; he removed the high places where the people went to worship those false gods and idols; he got rid of the asherah groves, he tore down his own great grand-mother’s giant asherah and removed her from being queen-mother; and he threw the sodomites out of his kingdom. For these actions, which pleased Father YHVH, Father Blessed him and the Nation with ten years of peace and prosperity.
In the tenth year of Asa’s reign and rule over the Nation, Zerah the king of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian army which consisted of one million war-fighters came against Asa and the House of Judah. This was the largest enemy force we read of in Father’s Word coming against His People, and it is the only instance “in all the annals of Judah, of a victorious encounter in the field, with a first-class heathen power in full force.” We read that the House of Judah was only mustering 580,000 war-fighters which was 420,000 shy of what Zerah brought. But, when Father is on your side, it doesn’t matter how large the enemy’s army is, it could be a million against you, and you alone, and Father will give you the victory; and that is what Father did, He gave Judah the victory over Zerah’s million man army. The House of Judah chased these heathen Ethiopians all the way to the territories of the Philistines, and slaughtered them and even some of the Philistines, taking away much booty and spoil.
In this Chapter, we’ll be reading of Asa continuing his cleaning up of the House of Judah. What is written and recorded in verses II Chronicles 15:1-8 are not written of or recorded in I Kings 14 or I Kings 15. Why? Because of two reasons: (1) we have to keep in mind that the Books of the Chronicles were written after the captivity to the Babylonians, and they were written by the kenites; and (2) though they were written after the captivity and by the kenites, they were also written from Father’s perspective, meaning, that He ensured what was written, was what He wanted written. Verses II Chronicles 15:9-18 are parenthetical, an insert if you will, as they refer to the events which transpired in II Chronicles 14:9-15.
With that introduction being said, let’s go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: “ Father, I come to You right now and ask that You Oh LORD Lead me and Guide me as I try and teach Your Word, don’t allow me to mis-teach or mis-lead Your Children. We, Father, also come to You as a group who desire to Learn Your Word, to thank You for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to partake of and receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, as we prepare to dine on the sustenance which sustains our inner man, we ask that You Oh LORD open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds and prepare us in order that we may receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your Understanding of Your Word, we seek Your Knowledge in Your Word, and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus’ Precious name we Pray, thank You Father, Amen.”
I Chronicles 10:1-II Chronicles 36:21
HISTORY (UP TO THE CAPTIVITY.)
(Division.)
11:1-II Chronicles 36:21 THE HOUSE
of DAVID. ESTABLISHED.
(Division.)
14:1-16:14 ASA (Introversion.)
14:9-16:10 Events. Public. War.
14:9-16:10 EVENTS. PUBLIC. (Extended Alternation.)
15:1-7 Word of YHVH by Azariah.
15:1-7 THE WORD OF YHVH BY AZARIAH. (Introversion.)
15:1 Threatening.
1A1
II Chronicles 15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah (YAH has helped; and, whom the LORD helps) (az-ar-yawי-hoo) the son of Oded (reiteration; and, restoring) (o-dadeי): —> And=This Chapter begins much the way many of the verses in Genesis 1 begin, with the word “and,” meaning that much more is happening than what is stated. In this case, it is showing that several things have or are transpiring: (1) that this Chapter is supplementary to I Kings 15; and (2) that—just like in Genesis 1—Father was about to do some moving. In the first case, it was upon this Age and His earth, in this case it is in the House of Judah.
Spirit of God came upon…=Father has something to say to Asa and the House of Judah, and He just touched one of His prophets, thus placing what He wants said in His prophets mind, and is sending His prophet to Asa to say it.
God=As used in this verse, this is אלהים, ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices,: ELOHIM—the genus God, in other words, Father in His role of Creator of all things. From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4: “ELOHIM occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on II Chronicles 18:31, where it stands in contrast with YEHOVAH as indicating covenant relationship). ELOHIM is God the Son, the living “WORD” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.” In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.”. Dr. Bullinger further notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that “(with Art.) = the [true] God.”.
Azariah=Azariah the son of Oded is only mentioned in one place in Father’s Word, II Chronicles 15:1-7, where we read that Father sent him to king Asa of the House of Judah in order to stir up the king and the People and cause them to turn to Him with their whole hearts. † For the etymology of the name Azariah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name עזריה (Azariah) or the slightly expanded but essentially the same name עזריהו (Azariahu) is among the most popular in the Bible. The Old Testament counts no fewer than 21 individuals with that name. Most famously is one of the three friends of Daniel, whose name was Azariah but who was given the Babylonian name Abed-nego (Daniel 1:7). The name Azariah or Azariahu consists of two elements. The first part comes from the verb עזר (azar), meaning to help or support: The final bit of the name Azariah is formed from the appellative יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton; the name of the Lord: YHVH. The name Azariah means Helped Of God (Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names), or YAHVEH has helped (New Open Bible Study Edition [NOBSE] Study Bible Name List, Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary), or more commonly The Lord Has Helped (Harris Archer Waltke [HAW] Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament).”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H5838, - עֲזַרְיָהss or עֲזַרְיָהוּ, - ‛ăzaryâh or ‛ăzaryâhû, pronounced - az-ar-yawי or az-ar-yawי-hoo, and means: From H5826 and H3050; Yah has helped; Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites: - Azariah. Total KJV occurrences: 48.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “whom the Lord helps. A common name in Hebrew, and especially in the families of the priests of the line of Eleazar, whose name has precisely the same meaning as Azariah. It is nearly identical, and is often confounded, with Ezra as well as with Zerahiah and Seraiah. Azariah; the son of Oded, II Chronicles 15:1 called simply Oded in ver. 8, was a remarkable prophet in the days of King Asa, and a contemporary of Azariah the son of Johanan the high priest, and of Hanani the seer.”.
Oded=Oded was a prophet and the father of Azariah; both he and his son lived and prophesied during the reign and rule of king Asa. † For the etymology of the name Oded, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Oded comes from the verb עדד ss(יadad) meaning to return or repeat. For a meaning of the name Oded, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads a curious Setting Up, Established and Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary proposes Restorer. New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List does not interpret this name. Here at Abarim Publications we surmise that this name probably aims to commemorate the act of perpetual witnessing.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H5752, - עוֹדֵדss or עֹדֵד, - ‛ôdêd or ‛ôdêd, pronounced - o-dadeי or o-dadeי, and means: From H5749; reiteration; Oded, the name of two Israelites: - Oded. Total KJV occurrences: 3.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Restoring. The father of Azariah the prophet; in the reign of Asa. II Chronicles 15:1.”.
15:2 Threatening.
1A2
II Chronicles 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa (physican or cure; or, physican) (aw-sawי), and said unto him, “Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah (celebrated; and, praised, celebrated) (yeh-hoo-dawי) and Benjamin (son of (the) right hand; or, son of the right hand, fortunate (bin-yaw-meneי); The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you. —> …Judah and Benjamin…=When Father divided the Nation into two separate Nations, only the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin comprised the House of Judah, the other ten Tribes made-up the House of Israel. Since that time though, since Jeroboam set-up the two golden calves and the two altars, many people started fleeing the northern Tribes in order to come back to Jerusalem to Honor, Serve and Worship the one and only True God, Father ELOHIM YHVH, also known by another of His Titles ELOAH.
…The LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you=Notice brethren, this entire statement by Father through His Prophet Asa, is predicated upon that larger-than-life, two-letter word IF. If ye seek Him, He will be found of you, but, IF ye forsake Him, He will forsake you. In conjunction with this of course, is the other ever-looming condition, If we are hearers and doers of what He commands in His Word.
The LORD=This Title of Father as used here in this verse, is Father in His Role of יְהֹוָה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH, YAHVEH, or YEHOVAH—the sacred and personal name of Father. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YEHOVAH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare II Chronicles 18:31). YEHOVAH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”. We can say “My God,” but not “My YEHOVAH,” for YEHOVAH is “MY God.”.
Asa=For a detailed description of Asa, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Judah=For a detailed description of Judah, including the Tribes history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Benjamin=For a detailed description of Benjamin, including his birth, history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
15:3 Trouble. The cause.
1A3
II Chronicles 15:3 Now for a long season Israel (he will rule as YAH; or, the prince that prevails with YAH) (Yis-raw-aleי) (secondary map) hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. —> …for a long season…=Yes, it has been a very long time since our forefathers served and worshipped Father. Since the time when Solomon brought in his foreign wives and set up the altars to their false gods and idols—15-20 years—to when his son Rehoboam continued the practice—17 years—and then his son Abijah—3 years—so, we’re talking roughly 35-40 years; and now, Father is telling Asa and the House of Judah that it is time to put away all the false gods and idols and return their hearts to Him.
Give some deep consideration to this statement brethren—Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God—as this has far more reaching applications than just during the time of Asa! It applies to Israel’s—the entire Nation as a whole, and then also, both Divided Houses: the House of Judah and the House of Israel—past and future: our forefathers were not serving and worshipping Father only while they were in bondage in Egypt, they didn’t serve and worship Him only while they wandered the wilderness for those 38 years after He brought them out of their bondage to the Egyptians, they didn’t serve and worship Him only during the time of the Judges, they didn’t serve and worship Him only during the time of most of the kings to this point in time, for the next 860 years when Father will be born in the flesh as His only begotten Son Jesus Christ they won’t serve and worship Him only, and for the 2021 years since He was born in the flesh we haven’t served and worshiped Him only; however, the Day is coming when we Will Honor, Serve and Worship Him only.
…teaching priest…=There is much, much meat in this statement brethren! Yes, the function and role of the priests was to Honor, Serve and Worship Father; yes, it was their job to correctly maintain all His Items which went into His Temple; yes, it was their job to keep the Peoples eyes focused on Father and ensure they didn’t serve or worship false gods and idols; but, it was also their job to Teach the People about Father YHVH from the Book of the Law—what the “Jews” call the Torah, the first five Books of Father’s Word, which we today call the Pentateuch—they were to teach orally from It and then Scribe It as well. Why would they be required to Scribe It? Because (1) you become more knowledgeable about something when you write it out yourself; (2) so that they would have their own copy; and (3) just like the king was to write his own copy so he could judge the People out of it, thus the Priests could then tell if the king was judging righteously or not. So what happened, why was Israel without teaching Priest? For the answer to this, there are again several reasons: (A) we know Moses’ own copy went into the Ark of the Covenant, whether he ever wrote out second copy, Father’s Word doesn’t record; (B) Father’s Word also does not record whether Joshua, any of the Judges, Eli or Samuel, nor any of the kings ever wrote out their own copy; (C) we have to go back to Joshua 9 where we read that Joshua and the elders allowed themselves to be deceived and allowed the Hittites into the camp and then made them the drawers of water and the hewers of wood for Father’s altar, whereby the Priests became lazy and allowed the kenite nethinims to takeover the duties of the Priests, we can verify this in this very Book of The Chronicles in I Chronicles 2:55, where we read: I Chronicles 2:55 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.; (D) we know that the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah were written chronologically prior to The Books of the Chronicles which is important because, it assists in explaining I Chronicles 2:55 above, and showing that the Priests again became lazy right after the captivity to the Babylonians, thereby allowing the kenite nethinims to run amok within the Priesthood and with Father’s Word. Shortly thereafter, they formed the Sopherim which was in charge of the Priesthood until the time Jesus was born in the flesh. What did the Sopherim do? These are stated by Talmudic writings, and have the unanimous voice of Tradition, to have formed “The Great Synagogue.” The sopherim at first consisted of 102 members, but was afterward reduced to seventy. It represented the five divisions of the Nation: (1) The Chiefs of the Priests; (2) The Chief Levites; (3) The Chiefs of the people; (4) The Representatives of the cities; and (5) The Doctors of the Law. The Sopherim’s word was—by solemn oath: (A) Not to intermarry with the gentiles—heathen; (B) To keep the sabbath; (C) To keep the sabbatical year; (D) To pay annually 1/3 of a shekel to the Temple; (E) To supply wood for the Altar; (F) To pay the priestly dues; and (G) To collect the Canonical Scriptures. “The Great Synagogue” lasted 110 years: from the time of Nehemiah to Simeon the Just; when, having completed its work, it became known as the Sanhedrin of the New Testament, the “Supreme Counsel”; of the Jewish Nation; which rejected the Kingdom, and crucified the King (The Messiah: Christ). By the people and their duties assigned here, you can see—or at least should be able to see—that this Great Synagogue which reduced itself to the Sanhedrin was made up by many of the scribes. I’m not saying that every one of them were corrupted, as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea were part of this counsel; however, I do believe most were corrupted. So, who were and what did the sanhedrin do? By answer, I’ll copy some information in from the “jewishvirtuallibrary.org”: “The ancient Jewish court system was called the Sanhedrin. The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme religious body in the Land of Israel during the time of the Holy Temple. There were also smaller religious Sanhedrins in every town in the Land of Israel, as well as a civil political-democratic Sanhedrin. These Sanhedrins existed until the abolishment of the rabbinic patriarchate in about 425 A.D. The earliest record of a Sanhedrin is by Josephus who wrote of a political Sanhedrin convened by the Romans in 57 B.C. Hellenistic sources generally depict the Sanhedrin as a political and judicial council headed by the country’s ruler. Tannaitic sources describe the Great Sanhedrin as a religious assembly of 71 sages who met in the Chamber of Hewn Stones in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Great Sanhedrin met daily during the daytime, and did not meet on the Sabbath, festivals or festival eves. It was the final authority on Jewish law and any scholar who went against its decisions was put to death as a zaken mamre (rebellious elder). The Sanhedrin was led by a president called the nasi (lit. “prince”) and a vice president called the av bet din (lit. “father of the court”). The other 69 sages sat in a semicircle facing the leaders. It is unclear whether the leaders included the high priest. The Sanhedrin judged accused lawbreakers, but could not initiate arrests. It required a minimum of two witnesses to convict a suspect. There were no attorneys. Instead, the accusing witness stated the offense in the presence of the accused and the accused could call witnesses on his own behalf. The court questioned the accused, the accusers and the defense witnesses. The Great Sanhedrin dealt with religious and ritualistic Temple matters, criminal matters appertaining to the secular court, proceedings in connection with the discovery of a corpse, trials of adulterous wives, tithes, preparation of Torah Scrolls for the king and the Temple, drawing up the calendar and the solving of difficulties relating to ritual law. In about 30 A.D. , the Great Sanhedrin lost its authority to inflict capital punishment. After the Temple was destroyed, so was the Great Sanhedrin. A Sanhedrin in Yavneh took over many of its functions, under the authority of Rabban Gamliel—my note here, Gamliel was the man whom Paul studied under. The rabbis in the Sanhedrin served as judges and attracted students who came to learn their oral traditions and scriptural interpretations. From Yavneh, the Sanhedrin moved to different cities in the Galilee, eventually ending up in Tiberias. Local Sanhedrins consisted of different numbers of sages, depending on the nature of the offenses it dealt with. For example, only a Sanhedrin of 71 could judge a whole tribe, a false prophet or the high priest. There were Sanhedrins of 23 for capital cases and of three scholars to deal with civil or lesser criminal cases..” Again, because of Father’s Word, and the contending with them by Jesus, and then their crucifying Him, it should be easy for the reader to see just who made up this great counsel of the Sanhedrin. It was these sopherim, who became the sanhedrin, who became the The chief Priests, elders, The Scribes, Pharisees, and sadducees: namely the “jews” who were in charge of the priesthood when Father walked in the flesh as His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. He knew who they were, and it is why He contended with them whenever He encountered them. He tried to teach His disciples who they were, and He is still trying to teach the remainder of His children today. Can I document this, you ask: Yes I can, that’s easy, we’ll start with when they first came to Israel and that can be read in Joshua 9; next, we read of them in Ezra 2:58-63; Ezra 8: 15-21; in the New Testament we can read of them in Matthew 13:34-42, Matthew 15:1-20; Matthew 23; John 8:44; Revelation 2:9 and Revelation 3:9. We are no better in our “church houses” today. There should be no denominational divisions, and that is what denominationalism does, it divides us from Father, as each denomination teaches differently and Father’s Word only has 1 meaning. Yes, there are some things within His Word which have deeper meanings, but the meaning in general is the same. Father doesn’t have one meaning for some people and a different meaning for others. But, man just has to change things up, man just has to think he is special and allow his ego to get in the way, which is why we have things like “speaking babble,” as that is what the so-called “speaking in tongues” in some of our denominations today is, a false teaching, whereby people lord over their congregants, I’m better and more close to God than you, as I can speak with God in a “prayer language,” or some other non-sense. It’s why we have teachings of things like prosperity doctrines, fly away doctrines, ritual this or custom that. What this world needs, is more teaching pastors.
…without law=During Israel’s history for the most part, they have been without the Law and when you don’t follow Father’s Laws, you’re not going to be prosperous, you’ll only receive Father’s cursing as He tells us in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Israel=For a detailed description of Israel, including his birth, his and the Nation’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
15:4 Humiliation.
1A4
II Chronicles 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them. —> We witnessed this all throughout The Book of the Judges, when things were going well for the Nation, they truned from Father and served and worshipped false gods and idols, therefore Father would send a punishment by way of another nation against Israel and after being oppressed for so many years, they sought Him for relief; He’d raise up a judge for the People to lead them out of their bondage, and after He did so, it didn’t take long before they were back to their old habits of forsaking Him, and then the cycle would start all over again.
This Nation of the United States of America is no better today. Our presidents, senate and congress lead us away from Father with their lawlessness, passing laws which allow the murder of children while still in their mother’s womb, allowing—read that, forcing upon us—homosexuality and sodomy, and so very sadly now the pushing of pedophilia in our schools. I truly believe Father gave us President Trump in order to show us His Blessings, but now has given us joe biden as a way of showing us what it is like to receive His cursings for forsaking Him and His Laws.
15:5 Trouble. The consequence.
1A5
II Chronicles 15:5 And 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 countries. —> …to him that went out…to him that came in…=This phrase is just a Hebrew figure of speech which means as people went about their daily business. But what Father is saying through Azariah, is that, while the People were yet forsaking Father, they had no peace, prosperity or success in anything they set out to do, because they had indeed forsaken Him.
…great vexations upon all the inhabitants of the countries=Here, Azariah is saying that each of the individual Tribes experienced confusion, consternation and or tumult because of their forsaking Father. Brethren, had any one of the individual Tribes, or any of the People within any of the Tribes turned and sought Father, He would have given that individual or that Tribe His Blessings. It is no different for us today, though our Nation is forsaking Father, all we have to do individually is Seek Him and we Will receive His Blessing.
15:6 Trouble. The consequence.
1A6
II Chronicles 15:6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity. —> Because they had all forsaken Father, the Tribes were squabbling amongst each other, sometimes even drawing close to civil war. I truly do not mean to keep harping on this; but, look around our Nation today, we too are close to civil war as the democrats keep pushing the godless agenda on we God Fearing People. For the Nation of the House of Israel—the United Nation, i.e., both Houses united, of course, which they are not—they too are about to engage in civil war as we’ll read in our next Chapter.
15:7 Encouragement.
1A7
II Chronicles 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.” —> Azariah finishes by telling Asa to strengthen himself and be valiant in destroying the false gods and idols, the asherah, the sun pillars, and the places of false worship within the territories of the House of Judah. In his doing so, Father will reward him handsomely.
This “your work shall be rewarded” should encourage us brethren, what is the only thing we can take to heaven with us? Our works: Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.’ ”. What do our works do for us? They make up our clothing in heaven as can be read in Revelation 19:8, which reads: Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (read this, equitable deeds, in other words, good works) of saints.. Sadly, many Christians today, when they hear of the Judgment, they start shaking in their boots as they falsely believe the Judgment means only punishment; however, Judgment doesn’t only mean punishment, it also means rewards, if we have good works.
15:8-19 OBEDIENCE.
(Repeated Alternation and Introversion.)
15:8 Removal of idols.
1A8
II Chronicles 15:8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet (this should read Azariah the son of Oded as in verse
15:1 above), he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim (double fruit; and, double fruitfulness) (ef-rahי-yim), and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD. —> Asa took the courage and strength which Father through Azariah told him to take in verse v15:7 above, and put away all the abominable asherah, sun images and other abominations out of the cities of Judah. He was waging an all out war on evil which his father, grand-father and great grand-father had brought into the Nation.
Brethren, we too had a President who was waging an all out war on the evilness which the democrats are trying to bring upon this Nation, sadly, they were able to cheat and steal the 2020 election and install their feeble-minded puppet. A man none of the democrat constituents really wanted, and for his vice president a woman that during the democratic primary, was so dis-liked, she was the first to drop out of the democratic race for president. To the democrat congress and senate, they didn’t care, so long as they had a puppet to fulfill their agenda.
…out of the cities which he had taken…=This phrase is actually referring to the cities his father Abijah had captured from Jeroboam: Beth-el, Jeshanah and Ephrain; of which we read about back in II Chronicles 13:19. They were all in the hill country of mount Ephraim.
…the porch of the LORD…=Where was the porch of Father? Right there attached to His Temple which Solomon had built some 60 years previous, and sadly, for most of those years it had seen only corruption and abominations. Asa is about to renew and restore it, but, it won’t be long before it sees corruption again brethren.
Mount Ephraim=For a detailed description of Mount Ephraim, including the city’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
15:9-12 Covenant.
1A9
(II Chronicles 15:9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim (double fruit; and double fruitfulness) (ef-rahי-yim) (territory) and Manasseh (causing to forget; or, forgetting) (men-ash-shehי) (territory), and out of Simeon (hearing; and, heard (shim-oneי) (territory): for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
—> First off brethren, notice the parentheses which begins at the beginning of this verse and continues through the end of verse v15:18 below, the reason for the parentheses is because the events described in these verses refer to the events which occurred in II Chronicles 14:2-7.
strangers=This word would normally mean a foreigner; however, here it means those righteous people who fled from Jeroboam and the northern territories because of his idolatrous ways—i.e., his setting up of the two golden calves, designating his own priests, including himself, creating his own feast days contrary to Father’s prescribed Feast Day, etc.—and came down to the territories of the House of Judah to sojourn with their brethren and Serve and Worship Father YHVH. I like Dr. Bullinger’s note which he has in his Companion Bible at I Kings 12:17, which reads: “Here was the nucleus of true worshippers constantly increased (I Kings 12:17; I Chronicles 9:3; II Chronicles 10:17; 11:3,16,17; 15:9; 16:1; 19:8; 23:2; 30:1,5,10,11; 31:6.) In Ezra 1:5; 2:2,59,70; 7:13; 9:1; 10:5, those returning of Judah’s captivity are called “of Israel,” and “all Israel,” 2:2,70; 3:1; 6:21; 7:10,13; 8:25; 9:1; 10:1,2,5,10,25; Nehemiah 2:10; 7:7,61,73; 8:17; 10:33; 11:3; 12:47. Judah was thus always representative of “all Israel.” Hence Acts 4:27, “the People of Israel,” and Acts 2:14,24,36, “of Judah.” The two words are used interchangeably, except where otherwise stated. See note on “all the House of Israel,” Exodus 16:31. Also on I Chronicles 22:17; 23:2; II Chronicles 12:6, “princes of Israel,” used of Judah before the division. Also on the cause of the increase of Judah, see note on II Chronicles 13:3.”. II Chronicles 13:3 is where Asa’s father Abijah with his 400,000 war-fighters was going up against Jeroboam and his 800,000 war-fighters. Dr. Bullinger noted there, that from that verse on forward, the number of war-fighters continually increased in Judah, while simultaneously decreased in the House of Israel. The reason for the decrease, was because of the people fleeing from Jeroboam and his ungodliness.
…they saw that the LORD his God was with him=Brethren, you too can have Father with you, turn to Him, Honor, Love, Serve and Worship Him and Him ONLY and He will be with you. Set the example for your family members and friends and let them see how He Blesses you, and with Father’s help, Prayerfully they desire His Blessings and also turn to Father to receive His Blessings.
Ephraim=For a detailed description of Ephraim, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Manasseh=For a detailed description of Manasseh, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Simeon=For a detailed description of Simeon, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A10
II Chronicles 15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem (founded peaceful; or, the habitation of peace) (Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-im) in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. —> …the third month…=This gathering took place during the time of the Feast of Weeks—what we today call the Feast of Pentecost—one of the three major Feast Days in Israel prescribed by Father in Leviticus 23:15-22, whereby everybody was required to come to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem=For a detailed description of Jerusalem, including the Nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A11
II Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. —> It was a time for celebration and joy in the House of Judah and Jerusalem. These sacrifices which Asa and the People were offering, were the spoils of war which they had taken from the Ethiopians and the Philistines in II Chronicles 14:13-15.
…seven hundred…seven thousand…=The number seven in Biblical numerics denotes Spiritual Completeness and Perfection. From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendix 10, “It is the number or hall-mark of the Holy Spirit’s work. He is the Author of God’s Word, and seven is stamped on it as the water-mark is seen in the manufacture of paper. He is the Author and Giver of life; and seven is the number which regulates every period of Incubation and Gestation, in insects, birds, animals, and man.”. From Dr. Bullinger’s Book Number in Scripture we read: “It is seven, therefore, that stamps with perfection and completeness that in connection with which it is used. Of time, it tells of the Sabbath, and marks off the week of seven days, which, artificial as it may seem to be, is universal and immemorial in its observance amongst all nations and in all times. It tells of that eternal Sabbath-keeping which remains for the people of God in all its everlasting perfection. In the creative works of God, seven completes the colours of the spectrum and rainbow, and satisfies in music the notes of the scale. In each of these the eighth is only a repetition of the first.”.
1A12
II Chronicles 15:12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; —> As these offerings by Asa and the People of Judah were taking place, they also double-downed their desire to seek Father with all their heart, mind and soul—nephesh in the Hebrew language. Will this renewal last brethren? Sadly, with us being in the 21st century and having the advantage of looking back on history, I can disappointedly say, no, it didn’t last. This renewal only lasted as long as Asa was king, when his son took the reigns of the kingdom after his father passed and returned Home to Father, he and the People went right back to as it was when Rehoboam and Abijah were king.
15:13-15 No exceptions, consequence for
those who would not.
1A13
II Chronicles 15:13 That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. —> Here, Asa is trying his best to be in compliance with Father’s Law of Deuteronomy 17:2-7 which reads: Deuteronomy 17:1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. —> Sacrificing any clean animal to Father which had a blemish was an abomination to Father, hence the non-blemished lamb for His Passover of Exodus 12:5 and following. This was also why His Sacrifice of His only Begotten Son had no blemish; of course, sacrificing an unclean animal to Father was also an abomination. Beginning with the next verse is why we came here. Deuteronomy 17:2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, Deuteronomy 17:3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; Deuteronomy 17:4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: Deuteronomy 17:5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. Deuteronomy 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. Deuteronomy 17:7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. —> The witensses were to be the first to cast the stones; then, all the other People were to join in. Joining in showed Father that everybody knew and accepted Father’s Law, not joining in showed Him you disagreed, not a position I’d want to find myself in brethren.
There are two other places we can look to in Father’s Word concerning seeking Father, and Father only brethren; though not chronically in order, I’ll list the second first: this one comes from the future to this time, when Father’s prophet Elijah has Jezebel’s 450 prophets of baal and 400 priests of baal and the People of Israel up on Mount Carmel and Elijah tells the People of Israel in I King 18:21: I Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the People, and said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” And the People answered him not a word. —> Here Elijah was telling the People that they had to choose, either serve Father only or serve baal only, they could not serve both. Why? The answer to that is the second place we look to in Father’s Word, and that is found in Exodus 34:14 which reads: Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:. Our politicians and fellow citizens of today should do well to consider this! Think Congresswoman Nancy Polisi—who claims to be a devout Catholic and serve Father—who pushes the homosexual and abortion agendas upon this Country and we Christians.
1A14
II Chronicles 15:14 And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. —> And…and…and…=First off, notice all the “and(s)” in this chapter brethren? The use of multiple and(s) in Father’s Word indicates a polysyndeton. These consecutive or multiple uses of the word and, are used to highlight and emphasize each detail and point.
Here, we see the People agreeing to Serve and Worship Father with joyousness and a glad heart, they express it with loud voice, shouting, trumpets and cornets. We see in this, the People have a sincere desire to Honor Father, they were’t just paying lip-service to Father.
15:15 Rest.
1A15
II Chronicles 15:15 And 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 the LORD gave them rest round about. —> …rest round about=Because of their sincerity and joyfulness, Father gave them peace on all their borders, no enemy came against them. This is what the result of Honoring, Loving, Serving and Worshipping Father brings us brethren, peace and security in our lives. This is true even to this day, the world may be “going to hell in a hand-basket” so to speak, but we can have rest for Serving Father, while it does so all around us.
15:16 Removal of idol.
1A16
II Chronicles 15:16 And also concerning Maachah (depression; or, oppression) (mah-ak-awthי) the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron (dusky; and, turbid) (kid-roneי). —> Maachah the mother of Asa=As there is no word for grand-mother, aunt or uncle in the Hebrew language; this Maachah was actually Asa’s great grand-mother, his father Abijah’s mother. She is also called Michaiah and we read about her in II Chronicles 13:1-2; and II Chronicles 11:20-21. She was the daughter of Tamar and Uriel of Gibeah—David’s son Absalom’s daughter and her husband—thus making her David’s great grand-daughter, see II Chronicles 11:21 for a somewhat further clarification of her lineage of and to David. She is called Maachah—oppression—whenever she is mentioned concerning her idolatry as here in II Chronicles 15:16, and Michaiah—who is like YHVH—whenever she is mentioned as queen mother.
…made an idol in a grove=Let’s check out the word “grove” in this phrase brethren, when we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H842, - אֲשֵׁרָהss or אֲשֵׁירָה, - 'ăshêrâh or 'ăshêyrâh, pronounced - ash-ay-rawי or ash-ay-rawי, and means: From H833; happy; asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same: - grove. Compare H6253. Total KJV occurrences: 40.. Let’s do as the Strong’s suggests and check out H6253, when we do, we find the following: עַשְׁתֹּרֶת, - ‛ashtôreth, pronounced - ash-toי-reth, and means: Probably for H6251; Ashtoreth, the Phoenician goddess of love (and increase): - Ashtoreth. Total KJV occurrences: 3.. Dr. Bullinger has an excellent study on the “The asherah,” in the back of his Companion Bible, in the Appendices, it’s Appendix 42. I detailed asherah in Judges 10:6, and I’ll bring in what I wrote there: The word “asherah” in the Hebrew is from the root word “aahar,” and it means “to be straight, erect, and/or upright”. It is from this word that we get the moral reference “to be upright,” hence happy and prosper. The male part called “asherah”—baal—is distinguished from “ashtaroth” the female goddess, yet the images are worshipped together. The ashtaroth being representative of the productive—or passive—principle of life; and “baal” or “asherah” being representative of the generative—or active—part of the process for producing life. In other words, this is using the sexual process in a form of worship, and the shaping of the trunks of the trees as the idols and images—groves—are done to excite the worshippers into the practice, and Father hates the practice. It was from this form that the religious practices of “evolution” that we have today came from, giving “chance,” and the reproductive processes of men and women the credit of creation and salvation for mankind. It leaves ELOHIM — the Creator — our Heavenly Father, out of the creation process, and man ends up worshipping the creation and himself, rather than the Creator, Who is The ONE and ONLY True Living God. In some religions, symbols mean everything; and the ashrah, or the “phallus” was the symbol for the baal worship. The forming of this symbol in their formed images, made from the topping of a tree, and then the shaping of it became the image of worship. What started out to be the honoring of the origin of life; became a corrupted form of worshipping of the organs that produce the life. These symbols in turn, became the incentive to all forms of impurity, which in time turned into nothing but sexual orgies. Since the creation of man on the sixth day and no written knowledge of what they were worshipping, we don’t really know when this all started. However, we also can look to what was happening and happened when the fallen angels came in Genesis 6:1-4, we know that they were mating with women and doing who knows what else sexually with them; but suffice it to say, that is was probably perverted, and from it also they were worshipping the reproductive organs. So, what Asa’s great grand-mother did was make a monstrous phallic symbol in her backyard where she held and participated in the deviant sexual orgies during a worship service of the phoenician goddess of love and fertility—increase. Most likely, after some of the younger women became pregnant after also participating in these sexual orgies, they and she also worshipped molech—from Abarim Publications.com we read the following: “Molech (or Moloch) is the name of an Ammonite deity, but whose cult spread over a much wider area. The worship of this particular vile specimen of theological folly included the sacrifice by fire of living children. Writers of old report that statues of Molech would be heated from within and children would be placed on this monster’s outstretched arms. Priests, in the meantime, would beat drums so that the parents of the sacrificial children wouldn’t hear their screams and lose heart.”—the deity of the Ammonites, whereby the sacrificed their children in fires. Asa took this monstrous asherah which his great grand-mother had erected, cut it down, broke it into pieces and then burnt it.
Brook Kidron=This Brook Kidron wasn’t really a brook at all, it was a valley or plateau which lie between the eastern walls of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. This area later became known as “The valley of Jehoshaphat”.
Maachah=For a detailed description of Maachah, including her history, the etymology of her name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of her name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Brook Kidron
Brook Kidron=The Brook Kidron really wasn’t a brook of water, it was a tract of land which was a valley, plateau or a wilderness which lie between the eastern walls of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. There may have been a small stream which ran through it, which possibly is why it is always mentioned as “The Brook Kidron.” There are several notable events which took place in this Brook Kidron: (1) As David fled from his son Absalom when he was trying to over-throw his father for kingship, we read in II Samuel 15:23: II Samuel 15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the People passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. —> This was where David and all his People were as they were fleeing for their lives heading through the desert of Judah, through the wilderness and they will eventually end up at Jericho. Only David and those in his household were fleeing, not the rest of the Israelites who were living in Jerusalem; they were free to stay, and had no need to fear for their lives. But, they were extremely sad to see the kingdom divided, and more importantly, David their king leaving; (2) There was a Benjamite named Shimei who, as David was fleeing Absalom, cursed David. Upon his death bed, David gave instructions to his son Solomon, that Shimei should be put to death for his cursing David, so Solomon called Shimei to him and told him that he would not touch him so long as he never crossed over the Brook Kidron. Shimei had two servants who fled from him and went to Gath, Shimei went to retreive his servants and when it was told to Solomon, Solomon called Shimei to him and reminded him of the vow which he had agreed to and which he had broken, so Solomon had Benaiah carry out the task of executing Shimei; (3) When David’s great, great grand-son Asa was king of the House of Judah, as he was cleaning up the Nation for all the idolatry, he even cut down, broke into pieces his great grand-mother’s monstrous asherah and then burnt it in the Brook Kidron; (4) Many decades later, king Josiah was once again cleaning out all the idolatry from the Nation and he took the altars which Ahaz and Manasseh had made and broke them in pieces and then burnt them in the Brook Kidron; and finally (5) In the New Testament, we read in John 18, that Jesus crossed the Brook Cedron with His disciples and entered into a garden, it was in this garden where Judas betrayed Him. † For the etymology of the name Kidron, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Kidron comes from the verb קדר (qadar), meaning to be dark, dirty or gloomy: The waw-nun extension serves to personify or localize the root; Kidron means Dark One. For a meaning of the name Kidron, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Dark, Turbid. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Very Black, Full Of Darkness.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where I’ll give the description of both words, starting with Brook: H5158, - נַחַל, ssנַחְלָה,ss or נַחֲלָה, - nachal, nachlâh or nachălâh, pronounced - nakhי-al, nakhי-law or nakh-al-awי, and means: From H5157 in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine): - brook, flood, river, stream, valley. Total KJV occurrences: 141.. Now the word Kidron: H6939, - קִדְרוֹן, - qidrôn, pronounced - kid-roneי, and means: From H6937; dusky place; Kidron, a brook near Jerusalem: - Kidron. Total KJV occurrences: 11.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Turbid. The brook, a torrent or valley, not a “brook,” or, as in the margin of Revised Version, “ravine;” Gr. winter torrent. It was close to Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. it is now commonly known as the “valley of Jehoshaphat.” The channel of the valley of Jehoshaphat is nothing more than the dry bed of a wintry torrent, bearing marks of being occasionally swept over by a large volume of water. It was crossed by David in his flight II Samuel 15:23, compare II Samuel 15:30. And by our Lord on his way to Gethsemane John 18:1, compare Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39. The distinguishing peculiarity of the Kidron valley --mentioned in the Old Testament-- is the impurity which appears to have been ascribed to it. In the time of Josiah it was the common cemetery of the city II Kings 23:6, compare with Jeremiah 26:23.”.
15:17 Exception. Israel’s high places.
1A17
II Chronicles 15:17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. —> These high places were the ones in the territories of the House of Israel, not the ones in the territories of the House of Judah. Asa was able to, and did destroy and remove the high places in and around Jerusalem. We know this because we read of it in II Chronicles 14:3, which reads: II Chronicles 14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: —> Asa’s great grandmother—the queen mother—was looking to the east for her rituals, along with all the rest of the Baal worshippers, they bowed to their little altars of satan. Asa took every one of their forms of idols, and threw them into the Valley at Kidron, and then burned them all. When you go all the way to the top to remove evil from your kingdom, you are also going to get those who want to hang on to their sins, for they have come to love their rituals.
…the heart of Asa was perfect all his days=Asa’s heart was that of his great, great grand-father David, and like David, he Honored, Loved, Served and Worshipped Father YHVH only. Was he truly perfect and never sinned? No, he like all men in the flesh had sin, there was only one Who walked in the Flesh and had no sin — Father as His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
15:18 Dedicated things.
1A18
II Chronicles 15:18 And 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.) —> Notice the parentheses closes here at this verse brethren.
Remember all the booty and spoils of war which Asa and the House of Judah had recaptured from Shishak king of the Ethiopians, the Ethiopians—who Father had sent against Rehoboam and had cleaned out the treasuries of the kingdom and also Father’s Temple in II Chronicles 12:5-9—and the Philistines—of which we read of back in II Chronicles 14:12-15—Asa donated much of his own spoils to Father.
…dedicated=Some of these items were’t just any ole item, they were the Holy and Most Holy Items which were in Father’s Temple. So, we see that Asa restored them to their rightful place, thereby restoring Father’s Temple to its rightful Glory.
15:19 Rest.
1A19
II Chronicles 15:19 And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa. —> Father gave Asa peace for roughly 25 years. There were still border conflicts and clashes, feuds and skirmishes with the House of Israel; but, no all-out-war. That will change in our next Chapter where we’ll read of Baasha the king of the House of Israel come against Asa and the House of Judah.
July 2021.
This Bible Study was written by Scott Reis and is provided in order to be used as a private Bible Study Tool. Therefore, it may be copied in whole or in part and shared for private Bible Study; however, it may not be reproduced and published as an original work.
*