Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Azariah the prophet stirs the people to repent. Although king Asa and the people undertake a covenant renewal, idolatry is still prevalent.
II. Photo
Azariah speaks about life without God’s protection: “At those times, no wayfarer was safe…” (v. 5)
III. Important Verses
v. 3: Israel has gone many days without the true God, without a priest to give instruction and without Teaching.
v. 8: When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the abominations from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He restored the altar of the LORD in front of the porch of the LORD.
vv. 12-15: They entered into a covenant to worship the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul. Whoever would not worship the LORD God of Israel would be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. So they took an oath to the LORD in a loud voice and with shouts, with trumpeting and blasts of the horn. All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they swore with all their heart and sought Him with all their will. He responded to them and gave them respite on every side.
v. 17: The shrines, indeed, were not abolished in Israel; however, Asa was wholehearted [with the LORD] all his life.
IV. Outline
1-7. Azariah exhorts Asa to follow God
8. Asa removes idolatry from the land
9-16. The people undertake a covenant renewal; Asa removes the queen mother
17-18. Asa enjoys partial success
19. Peace
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo taken from http://www.jamesmcquaid.com/RopeBridge480.jpg
