Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 15:16
And also [concerning] Maachah 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.
16 19 (1Ki 15:13-15). Other Religious Measures of Asa
16. And also concerning Maachah ] R.V. And also Maacah. “Maacah the daughter of Abishalom” is described as the mother of Abijam (Abijah) In 1Ki 15:2 and as the mother of Asa in 1Ki 15:10, although Asa is described as the son of Abijam (Abijah) in 1Ki 15:8. Most probably Maacah was the grandmother of Asa but retained her position as queen-mother during two reigns, i.e. until removed by Asa.
from being queen ] R.V. mg., from being queen-mother.
an idol ] R.V. an abominable image. On 1Ki 15:13 Robertson Smith ( Religion of the Semites p. 188, note) suggests that the Asherah itself (cp. 2Ch 14:3 note) was partly carved into a kind of image, “a grisly object.” For the present passage see next note.
in a grove ] R.V. mg. (rightly as representing the meaning of the Chronicler) for Asherah, Asherah being here and in a few other passages (1Ki 18:19; 2Ki 21:7 ; 2Ki 23:4; 2Ki 23:7) to be translated as the name of a goddess, about whom however next to nothing is known. According to some scholars the Chronicler was mistaken in imagining that “Ashrh” was anything more than a common noun denoting the wooden symbol of a goddess. We must of course translate according to the meaning of the Chronicler whether he has fallen into an error or not. Cp. note on 2Ch 14:3.
cut down her idol, and stamped it] R.V. cut down her image, and made dust of it.
the brook Kidron ] On the east of Jerusalem, an unclean place; cp. 2Ki 23:4, “in the fields of Kidron.” Bdeker, p. 96.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 16. Concerning Maachah] See the matter fully explained in Clarke’s note on “1Ki 15:13“.
The Jews imagine that Maachah repented, and her name became changed into Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah; and that this was done that there might be no mention of her former name, lest it should be a reproach to her: but we have already seen another gloss on this name. See on 2Ch 11:20.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of this and the following verses, See Poole “1Ki 15:2“, See Poole “1Ki 15:10“, See Poole “1Ki 15:14“, See Poole “1Ki 15:15“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Ver. 16-18. And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king,…. Or rather his grandmother, 1Ki 15:10,
he removed her from being queen; the Septuagint version is, “that she should not minister to Astarte”; which was the goddess of the Zidonians; of this and the two next verses, [See comments on 1Ki 15:13],
[See comments on 1Ki 15:14],
[See comments on 1Ki 15:15].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(16) And also concerning Maachah.2Ch. 15:16-18 are a duplicate of 1Ki. 15:13-15, with a few unimportant variations. See the commentary there.
The mother of Asa the kingi.e., his grandmother. (See 2Ch. 13:2; and 1Ki. 15:13). Others have supposed that Maachah the mother of Abijah, and Maachah the mother of Asa, were different persons, the former being the daughter of Absalom, the latter the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There are really no grounds for this. Maachah, the mother of Abijah, enjoyed the rank of queen-mother not only during his short reign of three years, but also during that of her grandson Asa, until deposed by him on account of her idolatry.
Queen.Gebrah, lady, mistress; but always used of a queen. Compare the position of Athaliah (2Ch. 22:2).
An idol.Miphltseth; a thing of fear; a horror; a term only found here and in 1Ki. 15:13. (Not as Merx suggests, nor a phallus, as others think. Comp. the cognate words in Job. 9:6; Job. 21:6; Jer. 49:16.)
In a grove.Rather, for Ashrah (2Ki. 17:16).
Stamped it.Crashed it. A detail added by the chronicler. So Moses treated the golden calf (Exo. 32:20); and Josiah the high place at Bethel (2Ki. 23:15).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16-18. These verses are identical with 1Ki 15:13-15, where see notes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
I admire Asa’s integrity, in that his eye would not spare even his own mother. Surely there can be no real love to the Lord, that suffers any creature to become a rival. He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me. Precious Jesus! give me grace to follow thee wholly, though the ties of nature plead ever so powerfully. Thou who hast made me, redeemed me, and given me all my comforts; surely thou hast an unquestionable right to be loved, and closely adhered to above all.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 15:16 And also [concerning] Maachah 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.
Ver. 16. And also concerning Maachah. ] See on 1Ki 15:13 .
He removed her from being queen.
a Joseph.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Maachah. See note on 2Ch 13:2.
mother = the queen-mother. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus) for grandmother (1Ki 15:2).
idol in a grove = a monstrous ‘Asherah for a grove. Compare 1Ki 15:13. See App-42.
stamped it = beat it small.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 15:16-19
2Ch 15:16-19
MORE ABOUT ASA’S REFORMS
“And also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being the queen (mother), because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah and Asa cut down her image and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. 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. And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.”
The unceasing war against Chronicles by the radical critics focuses upon two things in this paragraph.
(1) “In 2Ch 15:17 we read that the high places were not taken away, but in 2Ch 15:8 that they were!” This is typical of the type of unprincipled and dishonest efforts of unbelievers to discredit Chronicles. Note that 2Ch 15:8 does not even mention the high places! Furthermore, the abominations which Asa put away were those “in the cities”; and many of them continued to be observed in the rural areas. “Even Asa’s best efforts were not sufficient to eradicate pagan practices entirely.”
(2) The other attack is directed against an alleged `contradiction’ between 1Ki 15:16, which says, “There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days,” and the word here in 2Ch 15:19 that, “There was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.” Cook suggested that a corrupted text is responsible for this; but Barker has an even better explanation: “What this says, actually, is that a state of war was chronic between Asa and Baasha.” Of course, this savage hatred between the two Israels continued without intermission as long as the Northern Israel existed.
“The mother of Asa … had made an abominable image for an Asherah” (2Ch 15:16). This was some kind of a pillar, called here an image; and we have been encouraged by some to think of it as an incense altar (See the RSV). However, the word abominable, as used here, is also rendered unspeakable, horrible, etc. by translators. These words are much too strong for anything innocent.
The Douay Version translates this passage like it is: “Maacah the mother of Asa made in a grove an idol of Priapus.” This was an image of the human phallus, which in all probability was the usual form these pillars took. Curtis (Madsen) accepted this meaning of this passage, writing that, “This understanding of it is as good as any, and it is generally accepted.” “In Greek and Roman mythology, this was the god of male procreative power.”
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 15:16. The title of queen was an honorary one only; the full form is “queenmother.” Yet it is a considerable honor and not lightly to be considered. But the mother of the king had made herself unworthy of the title by her idolatry. Asa showed his faithfulness to God by not allowing his flesh and blood interests to interfere with his devotion to the Lord.
2Ch 15:17. But the high places . . . nevertheless. These two expressions modify each other. There was something wrong about the high places, but not as bad as some other things since Asa was spoken of favorably in spite of such places. See the comments I have made on the subject at 1Ki 3:2.
2Ch 15:18-19. When kings and other great men obtained valuables from their enemies, they generally appropriated a goodly portion of them to the Lord’s service. Asa carried out such an action in his devotion to the God of Israel. He had a prosperous reign and was free from war many years.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
mother i.e. grandmother. 1Ki 15:13,
grove
(See Scofield “Deu 16:21”). See Scofield “Jdg 3:7”.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Maachah: 1Ki 15:13-24
the mother: that is, grandmother, 1Ki 15:2, 1Ki 15:10
he removed: 2Ch 14:3-5, Exo 32:27, Exo 32:28, Deu 13:6-8, Deu 33:9, Zec 13:3, Mar 3:21, Mar 3:31-35, 2Co 5:16
idol: Heb. horror
cut down: 2Ch 14:3-5, 2Ch 34:7, Exo 32:20, Lev 26:30, Deu 7:5, Deu 7:25, Deu 7:26, Deu 9:21, 1Ki 15:14-24, 2Ki 23:6, 2Ki 23:12, 2Ki 23:15
Reciprocal: Jdg 3:7 – the groves 2Ch 29:16 – Kidron 2Ch 30:14 – the brook Dan 5:2 – father Joh 18:1 – the brook
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 15:16. And also concerning Maachah Of this and the following verses, see on 1Ki 15:13-15.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:16 And also [concerning] Maachah the {i} 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.
(i) Or grandmother, and in this he showed that he lacked zeal, for she should have died both by the covenant, as 2Ch 15:13 and by the law of God, but he gave place to foolish pity and would also seem after a sort to satisfy the law.