2 Chronicles 15:8

ASA’S REFORMS AND RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT, 2 Chronicles 15:8-19.

8. And the prophecy of Oded the prophet Here is doubtless a corruption in the text. Either the words of Oded should be omitted, as an interpolation, or else the words Azariah the son (see 2 Chronicles 15:1) should be supplied.

Took courage Azariah’s oracle inspired the king with a zeal and enthusiasm even additional to that occasioned by the recent marvellous victory.

Put away the abominable idols This effort to clear his realm of idolatry is probably not to be identified with his earlier work of reform described in 1 Chronicles 14:3, but a later effort, inspired and encouraged by his victory over Zerah and by the words of the prophet. It may have been that his earlier efforts were only partially successful, and that Azariah’s oracle reminded him that much remained to be done in the work of reform.

The cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim The cities which his father had taken from Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 13:19. The writer, in his hasty brevity of narration, attributed to Asa what was really the work of his father. See a similar inaccuracy in 2 Chronicles 17:2.

Renewed the altar The great brazen altar described in 1 Chronicles 4:1, which stood in the priests’ court before the porch of the temple. Some sixty years had passed since the temple was built, and this altar may, for that reason, have needed repair; or it may have been polluted by idolatry, and therefore needed renewal.