2 Chronicles 15:16

Translations

Modern

King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And Maacah mother of Asa the king—he removed her as queen mother because she had made a detestable thing to Asherah. And Asa cut down her detestable thing, and he crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Latin

Sed et Maacham matrem Asa regis ex augusto deposuit imperio, eo quod fecisset in luco simulacrum Priapi: quod omne contrivit, et in frustra comminuens combussit in torrente Cedron.

Original

Hebrew

English

King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

Notes

2 Chronicles 15:16

The queen mother was the leading lady of the realm, usually holding the position for life. When she died, the title went to the mother of the next in line for the throne. There is no evidence that the queen mother had official duties, but she had significant influence.
Asherah is well known from Canaanite stories as the wife of the god El and the mother of seventy children, including Baal. Her image likely had noticeable sexual features, which was common in Canaanite art.
his grandmother: Literally his mother. The term “mother” can refer to any female ancestor. See 2 Chronicles 11:20, where Maacah is named as the mother of Abijah (Asa’s father).

2 Chronicles 15:8–18

The Chronicler described Asa’s response using the prophet’s exact words, but Asa's actions exceeded the general advice. When Asa heard the prophecy, he bravely started a wide-ranging reform. He began by removing the offensive idols that had returned to the land (see 2 Chronicles 14:5). Complete trust in God had won the war against the Cushites, and fully renewing the covenant brought peace to the promised land (2 Chronicles 15:15).

Theme notes and profiles

Asa God’s Plan to Restore

Related verses

1 Kings 15:13–24
He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
1 Kings 15:10
…and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
Exodus 34:13
Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles.
2 Kings 23:15
He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole.
1 Kings 15:2
…and he reigned in Jerusalem three years. His mother’s name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
2 Kings 23:6
He brought the Asherah pole from the house of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem, and there he burned it, ground it to powder, and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.
Mark 3:21
When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
2 Corinthians 5:16
So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Deuteronomy 7:5
Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire.
2 Chronicles 14:2–5
And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
Leviticus 26:30
I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and heap your lifeless bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols; and My soul will despise you.
Deuteronomy 9:21
And I took that sinful thing, the calf you had made, and burned it in the fire. Then I crushed it and ground it to powder as fine as dust, and I cast it into the stream that came down from the mountain.

Parallels

1 Kings 15:9–15

People

Asa: King of Judah, son of Abijah; father of Jehoshaphat Asherah: Canaanite goddess; associated with wooden poles, idolatry Maacah: Daughter of Abishalom; wife of Rehoboam; mother of Abijah

Places

Kidron: A valley east of Jerusalem, site of significant events

Glossary

Asa Chronicles, Books of First and Second Genealogy Maacah, Maachah (Person) Queen

Topics

Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Asa Idolatry: The Good Kings of Judah Endeavoured to Destroy Maachah: Also Called Michaiah: Mother of Abijam and Grandmother of Asa

2 Chronicles 15:16

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Original?

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Related verses?

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People

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Glossary?

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Notes

Related verses

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Glossary

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