2 Chronicles 15:3

3. Now for a long season Literally, and many clays to Israel to be without a God of truth, etc. The period here referred to by the long season, or many days, has been variously understood. Some refer it to the kingdom of the ten tribes at that time; others to the past history of the nation, especially the age of the Judges; and others make it a prophecy of the future. No doubt the passage states facts which were true of various periods in the history of Israel, and conveys moral lessons applicable to all times; but it seems more natural for the prophet to speak in this connexion of things which had actually taken place, so as to base his counsels on matters of fact, and the allusions in 2 Chronicles 15:4-6 are most obviously to the state of things often experienced in the times of the Judges. With this more special reference in mind, but at the same time remembering the wider application of the statement, we may convey the true sense of the passage thus: Many a time has Israel been without the true God, etc.

Without a teaching priest Israel always had priests enough, such as they were; but many a time were they destitute of wise and pious priests who were competent to instruct the people in the true knowledge of Jehovah.

Without law That is, when the law was ill understood and worse observed, and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25.