2 Chronicles 14:5 kjv
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
2 Chronicles 14:5 nkjv
He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.
2 Chronicles 14:5 niv
He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him.
2 Chronicles 14:5 esv
He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him.
2 Chronicles 14:5 nlt
Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah's towns. So Asa's kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.
2 Chronicles 14 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Reforms & Righteousness | ||
| 1 Ki 15:11-12 | "Asa did what was right... He expelled the male cult prostitutes... removed all the idols..." | Asa's reforms aligning with Yahweh worship. |
| 2 Chr 15:8 | "Asa removed the detestable idols from all Judah and Benjamin..." | Further detail on Asa's comprehensive reform. |
| 2 Ki 18:4 | "He [Hezekiah] removed the high places... smashed the sacred stones..." | Hezekiah's later reforms mirroring Asa's zeal. |
| 2 Ki 23:5, 14 | "Josiah deposed the pagan priests... He broke up the sacred pillars..." | Josiah's radical removal of idolatry. |
| Deut 12:2-3 | "Destroy completely all the places... on the high mountains and hills..." | Commandment to destroy pagan worship sites. |
| Lev 26:30 | "I will destroy your high places... throw your carcasses on your idols..." | God's warning against high places. |
| Isa 2:18-20 | "Idols will vanish completely... People will throw away their idols..." | Prophetic word against all forms of idolatry. |
| Divine Blessings & Rest | ||
| 2 Chr 15:15 | "All Judah rejoiced... because they had sought him wholeheartedly... the Lord gave them rest..." | Explicit link between seeking God and rest. |
| Judg 3:11 | "So the land had peace forty years..." | A recurring theme: rest as a reward for obedience. |
| Josh 23:1 | "After a long time, when the Lord had given Israel rest..." | Rest granted by God after conquest. |
| Deut 12:10 | "When you cross the Jordan and live in the land... he will give you rest..." | Promised rest upon entering the Promised Land. |
| Ps 105:4 | "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." | Seeking God leading to strength and blessing. |
| Prov 16:7 | "When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace..." | God bringing peace through righteous living. |
| Ps 34:7 | "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." | Divine protection for those who fear God. |
| Ps 4:8 | "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." | Trust in God bringing inner peace and security. |
| Mt 6:33 | "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given..." | New Testament principle of seeking God first. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | "Do not be anxious about anything... And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..." | The peace God provides through prayer. |
| Idolatry & False Worship | ||
| Ex 20:3-5 | "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image..." | The first commandment prohibiting idolatry. |
| Jer 2:28 | "Where then are your gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you..." | Jeremiah's challenge to false gods. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | "They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal..." | New Testament perspective on the nature of idolatry. |
| Gal 5:19-20 | "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality... idolatry and witchcraft..." | Idolatry listed as a work of the flesh. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry." | Exhortation for believers to shun idolatry. |
2 Chronicles 14 verses
2 Chronicles 14 5 Meaning
2 Chronicles 14:5 describes King Asa's actions to purify the worship in Judah by removing the idolatrous high places and incense altars from across the kingdom's cities. This resolute obedience to God's law resulted in a period of peace and security for Judah under his reign, indicating divine approval and blessing on his leadership.
2 Chronicles 14 5 Context
The Book of 2 Chronicles recounts the history of the kings of Judah from Solomon to the Babylonian exile, often emphasizing the spiritual state of the kings and its impact on the nation. Chapter 14 details the early years of King Asa's reign. Asa came to power after Abijah, whose reign was marked by war with Israel and only a partial return to God. Asa is presented as a righteous king, unlike his immediate predecessors. This verse, 2 Chr 14:5, specifically highlights his initial, pivotal action: the widespread removal of idolatry. This act signifies a conscious decision to revert to pure Yahweh worship, following the covenant stipulations laid out in the Law, rather than continuing the syncretistic practices or overt paganism that had infiltrated Judah. The resulting "rest" is portrayed as a direct consequence of his spiritual fidelity, contrasting sharply with the unrest and military threats faced by previous kings. Historically, the presence of high places and pagan altars was a persistent problem even after the nation was established, often tolerated or even promoted by kings who compromised with surrounding cultures. Asa's comprehensive cleanup represents a significant period of spiritual revival.
2 Chronicles 14 5 Word analysis
- He removed: This indicates Asa's decisive and personal initiative. It reflects an active role in spiritual leadership, rather than passively tolerating existing practices.
- the high places (Hebrew: bamot, בָּמוֹת): These were elevated sites often used for religious rituals, originally sometimes for Yahweh worship but more often for pagan cults or syncretistic practices that mixed elements of true worship with pagan rites. Their existence represented a direct violation of God's command to worship only at the central sanctuary. Their removal signified a purification of religious life and an attempt to centralize true worship as commanded in the Law.
- and the incense altars (Hebrew: ḥammānîm, חַמָּנִים): These were altars specifically for burning incense, likely associated with sun worship or other idolatrous cults, distinct from the approved altar of incense in the Temple. Some scholars also interpret ḥammānîm as sun pillars or cultic statues. Their destruction explicitly targets the direct tools of pagan worship and cultic devotion to false deities.
- from all the cities of Judah: This phrase emphasizes the comprehensiveness and geographical extent of Asa's reforms. It suggests a thorough purge across the entire kingdom, indicating deep commitment rather than a superficial effort. This breadth signals the seriousness of the problem and Asa's determination to address it completely.
- And the kingdom had rest: (Hebrew: shaqaṭ, שָׁקַט): This word means quietness, tranquility, security, or an absence of disturbance, particularly from military conflict. It is a divine blessing, often presented as the outcome of obedience and covenant faithfulness. This rest contrasts with the constant warfare and oppression that frequently befell disobedient Israel and Judah.
- under him: This credits the peace directly to Asa's reign and, by extension, to his righteous actions. It underscores the king's responsibility for the nation's spiritual and physical well-being.
2 Chronicles 14 5 Bonus section
- The Chronicler places significant emphasis on Asa's reforms as the primary reason for the kingdom's prosperity and peace. This reflects the book's theological agenda: history is interpreted through the lens of divine retribution and blessing, where kings' faithfulness or unfaithfulness directly impact the nation.
- The persistence of high places, even after reform, (as seen in later kings like Jehoshaphat who were generally good but failed to remove them all, 2 Chr 20:33) underscores the deep-seated challenge of eradicating idolatry and syncretism from the hearts of the people and the landscape of the land. Asa's initial effort was remarkably thorough for his time.
- The "rest" granted by God (2 Chr 14:6, 7) not only meant an absence of war but also provided a period of stability during which Asa could fortify cities and build up his army, preparing for future challenges, thus demonstrating divine enablement alongside human responsibility. This rest is a manifestation of the "shalom" (peace, welfare, completeness) that God promises His people when they walk in obedience.
2 Chronicles 14 5 Commentary
2 Chronicles 14:5 serves as a foundational verse establishing King Asa's character and the divine principles at play during his reign. His vigorous removal of "high places" and "incense altars" across "all the cities of Judah" showcases his profound commitment to upholding God's covenant. This action was not merely an administrative cleanup but a deep spiritual reformation, dismantling the physical structures that symbolized Judah's religious syncretism and idolatry. The high places, despite some having been used for Yahweh worship in previous eras, often fostered unauthorized and corrupted forms of devotion, leading to an amalgamation of true faith with pagan customs. The ḥammānîm specifically targeted open paganism, marking Asa's zeal to eradicate overt spiritual corruption. The immediate consequence of this radical purification was that "the kingdom had rest under him." This direct causal link emphasizes a key Chronicler's theological tenet: obedience to God brings divine favor, blessing, and peace, especially freedom from external threats. Asa's leadership brought both spiritual and political stability, demonstrating that national prosperity flows from righteous rule rooted in genuine worship of the Lord. His example is a powerful reminder that turning away from idols and wholly dedicating to God's ways invites the tangible peace and protection of the Almighty.