Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron.
Parallel Translations
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Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron.
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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.
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And also Maacah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, 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.
Cross-references (21)
Passages linked to 2 Chronicles 15:16 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Kings 15:13-24 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days. He brought into Yahweh’s house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hand of his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying, “There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.” Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah. Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah. Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David’s city; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
- Exodus 34:13 but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles;
- 1 Kings 15:2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
- 1 Kings 15:10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
- 2 Kings 23:6 He brought out the Asherah from Yahweh’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast its dust on the graves of the common people.
- 2 Kings 23:15 Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah.
- Exodus 32:20 He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it.
- Exodus 32:27-28 He said to them, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’ ” The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men fell of the people that day.
- Leviticus 26:30 I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and cast your dead bodies upon the bodies of your idols; and my soul will abhor you.
- Deuteronomy 7:5 But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their altars, dash their pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their engraved images with fire.
- Deuteronomy 7:25-26 You shall burn the engraved images of their gods with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared in it; for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God. You shall not bring an abomination into your house and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it. You shall utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.
- Deuteronomy 9:21 I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the brook that descended out of the mountain.
- Deuteronomy 13:6-8 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods”—which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth— you shall not consent to him nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him;
- Deuteronomy 33:9 He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
- 2 Kings 23:12 The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of Yahweh’s house, and beat them down from there, and cast their dust into the brook Kidron.
- 2 Chronicles 14:2-5 Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh his God’s eyes; for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command. Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun images; and the kingdom was quiet before him.
- 2 Chronicles 34:7 He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherah poles and the engraved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, then returned to Jerusalem.
- Zechariah 13:3 It will happen that, when anyone still prophesies, then his father and his mother who bore him will tell him, ‘You must die, because you speak lies in Yahweh’s name;’ and his father and his mother who bore him will stab him when he prophesies.
- Mark 3:21 When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him; for they said, “He is insane.”
- Mark 3:31-35 His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside, they sent to him, calling him. A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him, “Behold, your mother, your brothers, and your sisters are outside looking for you.” He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” Looking around at those who sat around him, he said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Or grandmother: and herein he showed that he lacked…
Or grandmother: and herein he showed that he lacked zeal, for she ought to have died both by the covenant, as verse 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.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Ch 15:16 And also [concerning] Maachah the mother of…
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.
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He removed her from being queen.] Or, From being chief priest, in sacris meplezethi, to that abominable grove idol, which had its name from trembling or terrifying, or from the horrible villainies committed at those roguish rites of Priapus; not unlike those other of Anubis, where Decius Mundus abused that noble Roman matron Paulina, whom he could not bring to his lure by any money. {a}
{a} Joseph.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Of this and the following verses, See Poole "1Ki…
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".
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the…
And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king,.... Or rather his grandmother, Kg1 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 Gill on Kg1 15:13, Kg1 15:14, Kg1 15:15.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 16. Concerning Maachah] See the matter fully explained…
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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 2Ch 15:16. And also concerning Maachah — Of this…
2Ch 15:16. And also concerning Maachah — Of this and the following verses, see on 1Ki 15:13-15.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Mother, or grandmother. (Calmet) --- There were perhaps two…
Mother, or grandmother. (Calmet) --- There were perhaps two of the name, and Abia had married one as well as Roboam. (Menochius) --- Deposed, &c. Hebrew, "from being queen." Septuagint, "he removed Maacha,...that she should not minister to Astarte; and he cut the idol in pieces, and burnt it," &c. (Haydock) --- Syriac, "because she had celebrated a feast to idols." But it seems she had set up a stone, which Asa burnt. See 3 Kings xv. 13. (Calmet) --- Priapus is added by the Vulgate to explain [the] Hebrew, "the idol of, or in the grove," (Haydock) Asera or Astarte. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 16-18. These verses are identical with 1Ki_15:13-15, where see…
16-18. These verses are identical with 1Ki_15:13-15, where see notes.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 16–19 (1Ki_15:13-15). Other Religious Measures of Asa
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.
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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 “Ashçrâh” 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.” Bädeker, p. 96.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (16) And also concerning Maachah.—2Ch_15:16-18 are a duplicate of…
(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 king—i.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.
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Queen.—Gebîrah, lady, mistress; but always used of a queen. Compare the position of Athaliah (2Ch_22:2).
An idol.—Miphlètseth; 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 Ashçrah (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).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Maachah the mother of Asa; i.e. the grandmother (2Ch_11:20-22…
Maachah the mother of Asa; i.e. the grandmother (2Ch_11:20-22 2Ch_13:2; 1Ki_15:2, 1Ki_15:10, 1Ki_15:13) of Asa; and the statement amounts to this, that Asa removed her from the dignity she had enjoyed, with all its influences of "queen-mother." An idol in a grove. This, probably, literally translated, says, a hideous fright for, i.e. in place of Asherah, i.e. Ashtoreth, or Astarte; but some translate to Asherah. The word we translate "a hideous fright" (txlpmi) occurs only here and in the parallel, (1Ki_15:13) and its derivation root guides to this rendering; but some give it the idea of an object of reverent fear among idols. Asa cut down. So it was enjoined. (Exo_34:13-15) And stamped it; Hebrew, Qd,y; w; hiph. of qqd; ; the meaning being "stamped it" in the dust, from its upright position, finally burning it. The word is used in 2Ch_34:4, 2Ch_34:7; 2Ki_23:6, 2Ki_23:15; Exo_30:36; Mic_4:13. The word used in the parallel is "cut off;" or "cut down; of course also preparatory to burning. At the brook Kidron. The Kidron was a torrent rather than a brook. It flowed between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, and finally emptied itself into the Dead Sea. The references to Kidron in the Old Testament are interesting, hut all reinvested with heightened interest from those in the New Testament. (Joh_18:1, compared with what the parallels infer; Mar_14:26; Luk_22:39) The first two references in the Old Testament are 2Sa_15:23; 1Ki_2:37. Passing these, the present place, with its parallel, brings the Kidren valley next under notice as, the place of destruction for Maachah"s obscene phallic abomination, and then (2Ki_11:16) as the place where Athalish was destroyed. Its associations are similar when spoken of in 2Ki_13:4, 2Ki_13:6, 2Ki_13:12; 2Ch_29:16 2Ch_30:14, becoming the "regular receptacle for the impurities and abominations of the idol-worship, when removed from the temple and destroyed by the adherents of Jehovah." In the time of Josiah, this valley was the common burying-place of the city (2Ki_23:6; Jer_26:23 Jer_31:40) (For Robinson"s description of the modern state of the Kidron valley, see Dr. Smith"s Bible Dictionary," 2:14-16).
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain mother i.e. grandmother. 1Ki 15:13,
mother i.e. grandmother. 1Ki 15:13,
grove
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(See Scofield "Deu 16:21"). See Scofield "Jdg 3:7".
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 a disgusting figure
a disgusting figure
This phrase refers to an idol.
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Asa cut down the disgusting figure, ground it ... and burned it
Since Asa was king, he may have told his officials to cut down the figure. AT: "Asa made his workers cut down the disgusting figure, grind it ... and burn it" (See: Metonymy)
But the high places were not taken out of Israel
This can be stated in active form. AT: "But Asa did not command the people to take the high places out of Israel" (See: Active or Passive)
Asa's heart was completely devoted
The heart represents the person. AT: "Asa was completely devoted" (See: Synecdoche)
all his days
This refers to the whole period of time that Asa lived. AT: "the whole time that he lived" or "throughout his whole life" (See: Idiom)
translationWords
queen
Asherah
high place
Israel
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 15:16 The queen mother was the first lady of…
15:16 The queen mother was the first lady of the realm, usually holding the office as long as she lived. When she died, the title passed to the mother of the heir apparent. There is no indication that the queen mother held official duties, but she wielded considerable influence. • Asherah is well known from Canaanite literature as the wife of the god El and the mother of seventy children, including Baal. The image made of her quite possibly had prominent sexual characteristics, a common attribute of Canaanite images. • his grandmother: Literally his mother. The term “mother” can be used generically for any female ancestor. See 11:20, where Maacah is listed as the mother of Abijah (Asa’s father).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.