12:1 After Rehoboam’s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the Lord.
15:1 God’s Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded. 15:2 He met 3 Asa and told him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The Lord is with you when you are loyal to him. 4 If you seek him, he will respond to you, 5 but if you reject him, he will reject you. 15:3 For a long time 6 Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law. 15:4 Because of their distress, they turned back to the Lord God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them. 7 15:5 In those days 8 no one could travel safely, 9 for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands. 10 15:6 One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil. 11 15:7 But as for you, be strong and don’t get discouraged, 12 for your work will be rewarded.” 13
15:8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged. 14 He removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had seized in the Ephraimite hill country. He repaired the altar of the Lord in front of the porch of the Lord’s temple. 15
1 tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”
2 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
3 tn Heb “went out before.”
4 tn Heb “when you are with him.”
5 tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”
6 tn Heb “Many days.”
7 tn Heb “and he allowed himself to be found by them.”
8 tn Heb “times.”
9 tn Heb “there was peace for the one going out or the one coming in.”
10 tn Heb “for great confusion was upon all the inhabitants of the lands.”
11 tn Heb “threw them into confusion with all distress.”
12 tn Heb “and let not your hands drop.”
13 tn Heb “for there is payment for your work.”
14 tn Heb “strengthened himself.”
15 tn Heb “the porch of the