2 Chronicles 15 17

2 Chronicles 15:17 kjv

But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

2 Chronicles 15:17 nkjv

But the high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days.

2 Chronicles 15:17 niv

Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.

2 Chronicles 15:17 esv

But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days.

2 Chronicles 15:17 nlt

Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa's heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.

2 Chronicles 15 verses

2 Chronicles 15 17 Meaning

This verse presents a tension in King Asa's reign, affirming his personal integrity and unwavering devotion to the Lord throughout his life, even as it acknowledges an important religious reform remained incomplete: the high places were not fully eradicated from the kingdom. It highlights a dichotomy between the king's sincere heart and the continued presence of widespread, problematic worship sites.

2 Chronicles 15 17 Context

King Asa's reign began after a period of instability and religious decline following Solomon's apostasy and the division of the kingdom. His grandfather, Rehoboam, and father, Abijah, had largely allowed idolatrous practices to persist and even flourish. Asa, upon ascending the throne of Judah, initiated significant religious reforms (2 Chr 14:2-5), clearing the land of foreign altars and cultic objects, strengthening the defenses, and leading the people in seeking the Lord. This positive beginning was reinforced by the prophecy of Azariah (2 Chr 15:1-7), which spurred Asa to undertake even more vigorous reforms, including gathering the people for a solemn covenant renewal to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. The broader historical context is the struggle within Judah to maintain monotheistic worship of Yahweh amidst pervasive Canaanite religious practices and the constant temptation of syncretism. High places were originally legitimate sites of worship before the temple was built, but after its construction, they became centers of unsanctioned (and often idolatrous) worship, posing a continuous challenge to true religion.

2 Chronicles 15 17 Word analysis

• But: (וְגַם - vəḡam) A strong adversative conjunction, signaling a contrast or a point of exception to the generally positive description of Asa's reforms and character. It introduces a caveat.
• the high places: (הַבָּמוֹת - ha'bâmōṯ) Refers to elevated locations, natural or artificial, that served as cultic sites. These could be used for Yahwistic worship, but frequently became associated with syncretism and idolatry, blending Yahweh worship with pagan rites (e.g., Asherah, Baal). Their continued presence undermined the centralization of worship at the Jerusalem Temple as prescribed by Mosaic law (Dt 12).
• were not removed: (לֹא־סָרוּ - lō’-sārû) Signifies that the complete eradication of these worship sites did not occur. Despite Asa's efforts in chapter 14 and the covenant in chapter 15, these entrenched religious sites persisted. This suggests either practical difficulty, a lack of popular support for their complete removal, or a distinction between pagan high places (removed) and those for legitimate, though illicit, Yahwistic worship (left in place).
• from Israel: While Asa was king of Judah (the Southern Kingdom), "Israel" is often used in the Old Testament to refer to the entire nation or the covenant people as a whole, rather than just the northern kingdom. Here it denotes the territory and people under Asa's jurisdiction, i.e., Judah.
• nevertheless: (אַךְ - ’aḵ) Another strong concessive particle, reinforcing the contrast introduced by "but." It emphasizes that despite the stated shortcoming, what follows remains true.
• the heart: (לֵב - lēḇ) In Hebrew thought, the "heart" is not merely the seat of emotions but the core of a person's being—the center of intellect, will, decision-making, and moral character. It represents one's inner disposition and commitment.
• of Asa: Specifies the subject, placing emphasis on the king's personal state and integrity.
• was blameless: (הָיָה שָׁלֵם - hāyâ šālēm) The root shalem means "complete," "whole," "sound," or "perfect." In this context, it signifies integrity, undivided loyalty, and sincere devotion to the Lord. It does not mean sinless perfection, but rather a profound commitment and consistency in his allegiance to Yahweh, without duplicity or apostasy.
• all his days: (כָּל־יָמָיו - kōl-yāmāyv) Emphasizes the duration and consistency of Asa's devotion. This integrity was not temporary or situational but a sustained condition throughout his entire reign, contrasting with the wavering devotion of many other kings.

• But the high places were not removed from Israel: This phrase highlights a persistent challenge in Judahite religious life. Despite royal reforms and divine commands, the decentralized nature of worship remained difficult to fully abolish, potentially due to popular resistance or deeply ingrained customs that predated the Temple's centrality. It reflects a gap between complete divine expectation and practical implementation.
• nevertheless, the heart of Asa was blameless all his days: This powerfully affirms Asa's character. The Chronicler prioritizes the internal, demonstrating that while external reform faced obstacles, the king's genuine commitment and pure motive were evident and maintained throughout his life. This draws a distinction between one's fundamental orientation towards God and the full outward success of their actions in every sphere.

2 Chronicles 15 17 Bonus section

The mention of "Israel" instead of "Judah" for Asa's kingdom often serves a theological purpose in Chronicles. It reflects the Chronicler's perspective that Judah, specifically the Davidic lineage, represents the true continuation of the covenant people, the legitimate heirs of the promise given to all "Israel." This verse (and its parallel in 1 Kings 15:14) reveals a subtle but significant discrepancy in the biblical accounts concerning high places during Asa's reign. 2 Chronicles 14:3 explicitly states Asa did remove the high places. Some scholars reconcile this by suggesting he removed the idolatrous high places, but not necessarily all high places used for Yahwistic worship, which were still contrary to the centralized worship prescribed by Deuteronomy. Alternatively, the statement in 15:17 could indicate that while an initial campaign was successful, the high places subsequently reappeared or a full, complete eradication was not achieved, representing a persistent spiritual problem in the land despite the king's fervent heart. The Chronicler is often concerned with the kings' spiritual policies and their personal hearts, making Asa a model of devotion, albeit with an acknowledged limitation.

2 Chronicles 15 17 Commentary

This verse offers a crucial, nuanced evaluation of King Asa. On one hand, it unequivocally commends his heart's devotion, affirming his unwavering personal integrity and commitment to Yahweh throughout his entire life. This internal purity, characterized by genuine, single-minded loyalty, sets him apart as a king pleasing to God. On the other hand, the verse pointedly notes the significant failure to eradicate all "high places." While Asa had initiated broad reforms against idolatry (as seen in chapter 14) and recommitted the nation to the covenant (chapter 15), this particular detail, often overlooked or incompletely addressed by even the "good" kings, indicates a limit to his reformational success. It suggests either practical difficulty in countering deeply entrenched popular religious customs, an inability to distinguish between illicit Yahwistic high places and purely pagan ones, or perhaps an acceptable compromise to allow a form of local Yahweh worship. The Chronicler presents this tension, recognizing Asa's authentic internal righteousness despite an incomplete external reform. It teaches that while God values complete obedience, He also assesses the heart, acknowledging the complex realities of leadership and societal change, and that a truly "blameless heart" means genuine dedication, even amidst imperfect circumstances or an inability to achieve total eradication of all evil.