But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
Parallel Translations
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But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
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But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
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But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was whole all his days.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (2)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (8)
Passages linked to 2 Chronicles 15:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Deuteronomy 12:13-14 Be careful that you don’t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; but in the place which Yahweh chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.
- 1 Kings 11:4 When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father was.
- 1 Kings 22:43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He didn’t turn away from it, doing that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes. However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
- 2 Kings 12:3 However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
- 2 Kings 14:4 However the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.
- 2 Chronicles 14:3-5 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.
- 1 Kings 3:2-4 However the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was not yet a house built for Yahweh’s name. Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father; except that he sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
- 2 Chronicles 16:7-12 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped out of your hand. Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and exceedingly many horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand. For Yahweh’s eyes run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.” Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great: yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but just the physicians.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (11 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain In respect of his predecessors.
In respect of his predecessors.
Which partly came through lack of zeal in him, partly through the negligence of his officers, and partly by the superstition of the people, that all were not taken away.
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Because that God was called the God of Israel, by reason of his promise to Jacob: therefore Israel is sometimes taken for Judah, because Judah was his chief people.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Ch 15:17 But the high places were not taken…
2Ch 15:17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
Ver. 17. But the high places.] See on 1Ki 15:14.
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.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 17. The high places were not taken away]…
Verse 17. The high places were not taken away] He had totally suppressed or destroyed the idolatry; but some of the places, buildings, or altars, he permitted to remain.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Comparing this verse with marginal references, it would seem…
Comparing this verse with marginal references, it would seem that in 2Ch 14:3, 2Ch 14:5 the intention and endeavors of the monarch are in the writer’s mind, while here he is speaking of the practice of the people. However earnestly the most pious monarchs sought to root out the high-place worship, they failed of complete success. Compare a similar discrepancy, to be similarly explained, in the history of Jehoshaphat 2Ch 17:6; 2Ch 20:33.
The heart of Asa was perfect all his days - Not that Asa was sinless (see 2Ch 16:2-10, 2Ch 16:12); but that he was free from the sin of idolatry, and continued faithful to Yahweh all his life.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Israel, to the honour only of the true God,…
Israel, to the honour only of the true God, chap. xiv. 2., and 3 Kings xv. 14. (Haydock) --- Perfect, with respect to the external worship, (Tirinus) or hitherto, (Haydock) though he offended afterwards, chap. xvi. 7, 12. T. --- Other altars, besides that at Jerusalem, might be dispensed with, (Worthington) by God’s authority. (Haydock)
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 17. The high places were not taken away —…
17. The high places were not taken away — See note on 2Ch_14:3.
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 17. the high places] Heb. bâmôth. These were not…
17. the high places] Heb. bâmôth. These were not necessarily places of idolatrous worship, but they were sanctuaries not authorised fey the Law; Deu_12:1-7.
Israel] Cp. note on 2Ch_11:3.
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perfect] i.e. “whole, undivided in its allegiance.”
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 (17) But the high places were not taken away.—See…
(17) But the high places were not taken away.—See on 2Ch_14:3; 2Ch_14:5. An explanation of the discrepancy has been suggested there; but a better one perhaps may be thus stated. The former passage relates what the good king had resolved and attempted to effect; the present records his want of success, owing to the obstinate attachment of his people to their old sanctuaries.
A similar explanation applies to the apparent contradiction of 2Ch_17:6 by 2Ch_20:33.
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Out of Israel.—Not in Kings. The southern kingdom is meant.
The heart of Asa was perfect.—Kings adds, with Jehovah. The meaning is, that though he failed to get rid of the high places, Asa himself was always faithful to the lawful worship of the Temple. (Comp. 1Ch_28:9.)
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 The high places were not taken away out of…
The high places were not taken away out of Israel. It is possible, but scarcely tenable, that, by Israel, the northern kingdom may be here intended. But for the apparent discrepancy with those places which say that Asa did take away "the high places", (2Ch_14:3, 2Ch_14:5) see notes under them, and 1, pp. 16., 17., of Introduction to 1 Chronicles." "The high places" were hills on which sacrifices were illegitimately offered instead of at the chosen place at Jerusalem. The heart of Asa was perfect all his days. The words, "with Jehovah," following after the word "perfect" in the parallel, (1Ki_15:17) makes the already plain plainer. The exact meaning is that Asa was consistently free from idolatry to the end.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect all his…
2Ch_15:17
Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
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Spiritual backsliding
We learn from the text that we cannot always infer the state of the heart from external symptoms.
I. You may have the appearance of something wrong while the heart is sound. This was Asas case.
II. Conversely you may have the heart unsound whilst as yet there is but little trace of it in the heart and life. In tracing this disease, consider--
1. Its working.
(1) The hearts relapse towards positive evil. There is the presentation to the mind of something of some worldly, fleshly things as pleasant and desirable; and then there not having been an immediate curbing of the rising inclination, the thoughts come to dwell with more and more complacency upon the object; and the man begins to wish that it might be lawful to have it, and to cast about and contrive for the modes of possession. And when the inclination has thus been formed and strengthened, it proposes to the understanding whether the enjoyment may not be had without hazard to the soul;and then there will soon be devised something plausible in the shape of an apology or warrant, something that shall serve to put conscience off its guard, or even make it concur in the prosecution of the design.
(2) The hearts decline from the love of godliness and of God.
2. Its symptoms. There was a time when you felt God to be your chief good--do you feel Him less so now? There was a time when you delighted in prayer--has it become more of a task now? Once you thought much of the work of Christ and longed to be with Him in heaven--are you now more contented with earth and more disposed to say, It is good for us to be here? Once you found sufficient scope for fervent affections in secret communion with God, in meditating on His perfections, and in admiring His love in the gift of His Son--now do your affections seem stifled unless you have some showy work on which to fasten them, some dazzling novelty with which to engage them? (H. Melvill, B.D.)
Caution in judging others
How ready are we to condemn and find fault with our neighbour, if his conduct do not seem in every respect consistent with his Christian profession! How soon we think he may be nothing but a hypocrite if we observe certain things in which he fails to carry out the principles of the gospel, though perhaps we know little or nothing of his peculiar circumstances, dangers, and temptations! It is enough for us that the high places are not taken away; immediately we condemn Asa, and infer that his heart cannot be right with God. Let the text teach charity first; and while we are not to shut our eyes to what is wrong, or count it matter of indifference whether or not the high places are removed, when the removing is that to which the Christian stands pledged, let us be cautious of judging our brethren, and delivering a verdict against them, when we are told, though the high places were not taken away out of Israel, nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. (H. Melville, B. D.)
Perfection, limited by power
Some of you might, indeed, be ready to make a wrong use of our text. You may say, If Asas heart was perfect with God, though he did not remove the high places, so may ours be, though you may see things in our conduct which may not be wholly consistent with a Christian profession. Yet, before using the case of Asa to justify the assertion that your heart may be right whilst your conduct is wrong, it may be as well to observe how far Asa had gone in the extermination of idols. The text merely says that the high places were not taken away out of Israel. Asa was king of Judah, but not of Israel; though he would seem to have possessed much influence in that kingdom. There was no reason to doubt that, where his power was clear, he had exerted it in restoring the worship of the true God; if he had not he would not have punished his nearest relations. You read that he removed Maachah, his mother, 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. You learn, in like manner, what was done with the idol of the high priest. So that, if he did not carry reform into Israel, he was vigorous in its application in his own fancily and household. When you can say as much--when you can say that, to the utmost of your power, you have laboured to serve God in your own family and household and neighbourhood, maintaining His cause among all those who come more immediately within the sphere of your influence--then you may hope that, as with Asa, the heart is perfect with God, though there are high places yet, in far distant lands, whose overthrow you have not attempted. (H. Melville, B. D.)
Unsoundness of heart suspected on insufficient grounds
And yet, in speaking on the case of the backslider in heart, it becomes us to take heed that we make not those sad who may be disposed, without sufficient cause, to write bitter things against themselves. It is not every person who suspects himself of unsoundness of heart who is really a backslider. We must declare there is commonly much greater cause for fear with your forward, confident, bustling professors, who would be quite offended if suspected of spiritual decline, than with the timid, scrupulous individual who is always ready to think worse of himself than others think of him. Tried by conscience--alas! what hardens conscience like contact with the world?--it may still make a man accuse himself of backsliding who is all the while pressing toward the mark for the prize of his high calling in Christ. Bodily sickness may be regarded as the taking away of the quickenings of the Spirit; the clouding of the understanding, and the clogging of the affections, will often make a believer fearful of spiritual relapse; he mistakes the infirmity of the body for disease of the soul--a decay of memory for a decay of piety; as though there must be less of devotedness, of abhorrence of sin, of meek reliance upon Christ in our dangers, our confusions, our difficulties in spiritual exercises, because of that unenlightenment of mind which is but the result, or symptom, of declining strength. Though a person may be quite correct in calling himself a backslider, yet the probabilities are greater for him who has no fears and no suspicions that he is really a backslider than for another who does not wait to be charged, but is painfully apprehensive of being in fault. For certainly, as a general rule in religion, to advance is, in some senses, to appear to go back. To grow in grace is to grow in knowledge of ourselves; and, alas! who can know himself better, and not think himself worse? If, however, we would not have the timid unduly severe in accusing themselves, we would have all diligent, and him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (H. Melville, B. D.)
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The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain i.e. the northen or ten-tribe kingdom.
Israel
i.e. the northen or ten-tribe kingdom.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.