2 Chronicles 15 16

2 Chronicles 15:16 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 15:16 nkjv

Also he removed Maachah, the mother of Asa the king, from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah; and Asa cut down her obscene image, then crushed and burned it by the Brook Kidron.

2 Chronicles 15:16 niv

King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 15:16 esv

Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

2 Chronicles 15:16 nlt

King Asa even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole, broke it up, and burned it in the Kidron Valley.

2 Chronicles 15 verses

2 Chronicles 15 16 Meaning

2 Chronicles 15:16 recounts King Asa's decisive act of removing his own grandmother, Maacah, from her powerful position as queen mother because she had made a vile and detestable idol, specifically an image for the Canaanite goddess Asherah. Asa's unwavering commitment to YHWH's purity of worship led him to personally destroy this abominable idol by cutting it down, crushing it, and burning it in the Kidron Valley, demonstrating his profound zeal for God's covenant and his intolerance for idolatry even within his immediate family.

2 Chronicles 15 16 Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of King Asa's reign in Judah. Following his victory over the Cushites, the prophet Azariah confronted Asa, declaring that the Lord would be with them as long as they were with Him (2 Chron 15:1-7). This prophecy ignited Asa's spiritual zeal. He took courage to intensify his reform efforts, which had already begun (2 Chron 14:2-5). The first wave of reforms cleared out many idolatrous practices, but Azariah's message prompted Asa to go even further, leading to a renewal of the covenant with God involving a solemn oath from all Judah (2 Chron 15:8-15). Verse 16 highlights the most challenging and personal aspect of these reforms: confronting the deep-seated idolatry within his own royal household, specifically perpetrated by his powerful grandmother, Maacah, a highly influential figure in the court and culture. This act demonstrates Asa's uncompromising commitment to the covenant despite significant personal cost.

2 Chronicles 15 16 Word analysis

• Even: The Hebrew particle gam (גַּם) here conveys "also" or "even," highlighting that Asa's reforms extended to everyone, including his own powerful family member. It emphasizes the extent and rigor of his commitment.

• Maacah: (מַעֲכָה, Ma'akah). This was a significant figure, the daughter of Absalom (according to some traditions, though others suggest different lineage), wife of Rehoboam, and mother of Abijah. Her high status as queen mother meant her idolatry had deep cultural and religious implications, potentially setting a pervasive example for the kingdom.

• grandmother: The Hebrew word 'em (אֵם) usually means "mother" but can also mean "grandmother" or "ancestress" in a broader sense. Given Maacah was Rehoboam's wife and Abijah's mother, she was indeed Asa's grandmother. The parallel in 1 Kings 15:13 also uses "mother," reflecting this broader Hebrew usage. This makes Asa's action even more remarkable, showing no partiality towards a senior, influential, and very close family member.

• King Asa: Refers to the reforming monarch of Judah. His action here is pivotal, marking him as a king dedicated to spiritual purity.

• removed her: The Hebrew verb is suwr (סוּר), meaning to turn aside, depart, or remove. It signifies a decisive, active removal of her status and influence. This was a direct, authoritative dismissal.

• from being queen mother: The "queen mother" (gevīrah, גְּבִירָה) was a powerful, authoritative position in the ancient Near East, often holding significant influence over the king and national affairs. Removing her from this role was a radical act that stripped her of political and social standing.

• because she had made: The reason is explicitly stated, connecting the consequence directly to her idolatrous act. The verb 'asah (עָשָׂה) means "to make," indicating a deliberate and active participation in idol creation.

• an abominable image: The Hebrew is miphletzet (מִפְלֶצֶת), which literally means "a horrible, dreadful thing," or "an object of terror." It denotes something repulsive and detestable to God. This term highlights the extreme revulsion felt towards the idol, emphasizing its loathsome nature.

• for Asherah: (אֲשֵׁרָה, 'Asherah). Asherah was a prominent Canaanite mother goddess, often depicted as a fertility deity, consort of El or Baal. Her cult often involved wooden poles or trees (Asherah poles) and ritual prostitution. Worship of Asherah was a direct violation of YHWH's exclusive covenant, representing a profound syncretism that compromised the uniqueness of Israel's God.

• Asa cut down her image: The verb karat (כָּרַת) means "to cut off" or "cut down," suggesting the forceful felling of a wooden image, likely an Asherah pole.

• crushed it: The Hebrew verb is daqāq (דָּקַק), meaning to beat into small pieces, to pulverize, or grind. This denotes a complete and thorough destruction, not just removal, ensuring it could not be reassembled or venerated.

• and burned it: The verb sarap (שָׂרַף) means "to burn." Burning was a common method of defiling and obliterating idols, often associated with purging and purification, ensuring the complete annihilation of the object and the repudiation of its associated cult. It rendered the idol unusable and ceremonially unclean beyond redemption.

• at the Kidron Valley: (נַחַל קִדְרוֹן, Naḥal Qidron). This valley, east of Jerusalem, was a notorious dumping ground for refuse, idols, and unclean things. By burning and disposing of the idol here, Asa publicly proclaimed its vileness and impurity, associating it with filth and defilement rather than sacredness. This was a symbolic act of ultimate disgrace and cleansing for the land.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Even Maacah his grandmother King Asa removed her from being queen mother": This phrase highlights the radical nature of Asa's reforms, extending to the highest echelons of power and his closest family. It emphasizes that faithfulness to God takes precedence over personal or familial ties, even when it involves politically difficult and socially uncomfortable decisions.
  • "because she had made an abominable image for Asherah": This specifies the precise nature of the offense: active creation of idolatrous objects dedicated to a foreign deity. The choice of "abominable image" (miphletzet) emphasizes the spiritual horror and detestableness of such practices in God's eyes, framing them as a direct challenge to His sovereignty and holiness.
  • "Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the Kidron Valley": This tripartite action – cutting, crushing, and burning – describes a thorough, definitive, and public act of destruction and defilement. It underscores Asa's unwavering zeal and determination to eradicate every trace of idolatry, rendering the idol utterly powerless and consigning it to a place of ritual impurity, thereby reinforcing the purity of Yahweh worship.

2 Chronicles 15 16 Bonus section

The account of Asa's reforms, especially his judgment against Maacah, contrasts sharply with the earlier reigns of Rehoboam and Abijah, which were marred by widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness. Asa's willingness to purge idolatry even from the Queen Mother's position implies a spiritual authority that transcended typical patriarchal societal norms. The Queen Mother, or Gevīrah, held unique authority in the Judahite court, often serving as a regent or a powerful political force. For Asa to remove her highlights the radical and total commitment to covenant reform, indicating a complete realignment of Judah's priorities back to God. This action sets a powerful precedent for personal accountability in leadership and for leaders prioritizing God's glory above all other relationships or earthly gains.

2 Chronicles 15 16 Commentary

2 Chronicles 15:16 powerfully illustrates the non-negotiable nature of God's covenant demand for exclusive worship. King Asa's action of removing Maacah, his grandmother, from the revered position of queen mother and meticulously destroying her Asherah idol demonstrates uncompromising faithfulness. This was not a passive reform but an active, painful purging of the spiritual cancer that threatened Judah. The "abominable image" highlights the spiritual filth of idolatry, while the public, triple act of "cutting down, crushing, and burning" in the defiled Kidron Valley underscores the utter repudiation and contempt Asa had for false worship. This commitment, putting divine loyalty above familial and political convenience, established a standard of leadership that models obedience and zeal for the Lord's purity, signaling a profound national turning back to God under his strong hand.