Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 14:3
For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves:
3. the altars of the strange gods] R.V. the strange altars.
the images ] R.V. the pillars, LXX. . The “pillar” or “obelisk,” Heb. Mabh, was a monolith standing by an altar as a symbol of the god worshipped at the altar. In later days an image took the place of the pillar, i.e. the mere symbol was succeeded by the likeness of the god. (W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites, p. 203 ff.)
and cut down the groves ] R.V. and hewed down the Asherim. An Ashrah (pl. Ashrim and Ashroth) was probably a wooden pole which was planted beside an altar as the symbol of a deity. It appears to have been a survival of tree-worship, as the Mabh was a survival of stone-worship. The ashrah of itself did not represent any particular deity, but it could be carved to bear the symbol of any special god or goddess, e.g. of Astarte. (W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites, p. 186 ff.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3. brake down the imagesofBaal (see on 2Ch 34:4; Le26:30).
cut down the grovesrather,”Asherim.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For he took away the altars of the strange gods,…. Or of a strange people, of the Zidonians, Ammonites, and Moabites, which had remained from the times of Solomon, and which he built for his wives, 1Ki 11:7
and the high places; built for idols; for as for those on which the true God was worshipped, they were not removed in his days, 1Ki 15:14
and brake down the images: or statues, or pillars, erected to the honour of idols, and on which the images of them were placed:
and cut down the groves; in the midst of which they stood.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Took away the high places This statement, repeated in 2Ch 14:5, seems to be contradicted in 2Ch 15:17, where it is said “the high places were not taken away out of Israel.” This apparent discrepancy is explicable in several ways. Some think that the high places here referred to were those of the strange gods; a possible explanation, though scarcely satisfactory, since no mention of strange gods occurs in 2Ch 14:5, or 2Ch 15:17. We may suppose that Asa succeeded, at one period of his reign, in abolishing all the high places, but that they subsequently appeared again, and he died without seeing his kingdom entirely rid of them. But perhaps the best explanation is, that Asa made the greatest effort to remove the high places from his kingdom, and was largely successful, but, notwithstanding all his efforts, he failed of complete success. The writer does not say that he took away all the high places. Either of these explanations is more rational than to suppose that the writer contradicted himself in the space of a chapter.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ch 14:3. Altars of the strange gods Altars of the strangers; i.e. which the strangers had erected to their several gods. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 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:
Ver. 3. And the high places. ] Erected to idols; not the other. 1Ki 15:14
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
took away . . . the high places. No “discrepancy” between this and 2Ch 15:17; for the high places referred to there belonged to “Israel”, not Judah. Asa could do nothing in Israel.
images = sun images.
groves. Hebrew. ‘Asherim. See note on Exo 34:13, and App-42. See note on Isa 17:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
places Cf. (See Scofield “1Ki 3:2”) See Scofield “1Ki 15:14”.
groves (See Scofield “Deu 16:21”) See Scofield “Jdg 3:7”.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
For he took: Deu 7:5, 1Ki 11:7, 1Ki 11:8, 1Ki 14:22-24
the high places: 2Ch 15:17, Lev 26:30, 1Ki 15:12-14
brake: 2Ch 34:4, Exo 34:13, Deu 7:5, Deu 7:25
images: Heb. statue, 2Ki 23:14, *marg.
cut down: Jdg 6:25-28, 1Ki 11:7, 2Ki 18:4, 2Ki 23:6, 2Ki 23:14
Reciprocal: Deu 12:3 – and burn 1Ki 15:14 – the high places 2Ch 15:16 – he removed 2Ch 17:6 – he took away 2Ch 20:33 – the high places 2Ch 31:1 – brake
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 14:3. He took away the altars of the strange gods Since the time when Solomon admitted idolatry, in the latter end of his reign, it appears, nothing had been done till now to suppress it; so that it may be presumed it had gained ground. Strange gods were worshipped, and had their altars, images, and groves: and the temple-service, though kept up by the priests, was neglected by many of the people. As soon as Asa had power in his hands, he made it his business to destroy those idolatrous altars and images, they being a great provocation to the jealous God, and a great temptation to a careless and unthinking people. He hoped, by destroying the idols, to reform the idolaters, which he had in view, and not their destruction.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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 {a} groves:
(a) Which were planted contrary to the Law, De 16:21.