2 Chronicles 14:5

2Ch 14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

Ver. 5. And the images.] Heb., The sun images: Hammonim, the images of Jupiter Ammon, as some {a} will have it.

{a} A Lapide.

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.

He showeth that the rest and quietness of kingdoms standeth in abolishing idolatry, and advancing true religion.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

he took away . . . the high places--that is, those devoted to idolatrous rites.

took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images--All public objects and relics of idolatry in Jerusalem and other cities through his kingdom were destroyed; but those high places where God was worshipped under the figure of an ox, as at Beth-el, were allowed to remain (Kg1 15:14); so far the reformation was incomplete.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

5. the images] R.V. the sun-images. Cp. 2Ch_34:4; Isa_17:8; Isa_27:9, The Heb. word (“ḥamman”) is of uncertain meaning, and it is possible that no kind of image is meant, but rather the hearth on which the sacred fire was kept. The Heb. root means “to be hot.” (W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites, p. 489.)

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.

And he built fenced cities in Judah,.... For his defence against the kingdom of Israel and other nations, as Rehoboam had done before him; and which might have been demolished by Shishak king of Egypt, when he took them, Ch2 11:5.

for the land had rest; according to the Targum, the land of Israel rested, and gave no disturbance to the kingdom of Judah, not having recovered the blow given them by Abijah; but it is rather to be understood of the land of Judah, which, as it did not attempt the reduction of the ten tribes, so it was neither attacked by them, nor any other enemy: and he had no war in those years; in the ten years mentioned, Ch2 14:1, neither with Israel nor any other nation: because the Lord had given him rest; that he might be at leisure to do the above things; all rest is from the Lord, civil, spiritual, and eternal.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Images - See the margin, sun-images; and Lev 26:30 note.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Altars. Hebrew, "high places, and the Chamanim," or temple of the sun, Leviticus xxvi. 30. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "images." (Haydock) --- Asa was encouraged to perfect the work which he had begun, by the exhortation of Azarias, chap. xv. 8. (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).

The images; Hebrew, The images spoken of here are, of coarse, not the same with those (noted upon already) of ver. 3. The present khammanim are mentioned seven times beside, viz. 2Ch_34:4, 2Ch_34:7; Isa_17:8 Isa_27:9; Eze_6:4, Eze_6:6.

Gesenius says Khamman is an epithet of Baal as bearing rule over the sun (hm; j,"heat," or "the sun"), in the oft-found compound expression, Mj lBo; he thinks the plural ( invariably found in the Old Testament, is short for He does not agree with the translation of Haenaker ("Miscell. Phoen.," p. 50), "sun-image" by aid of the word ls,p, understood, images said to have been of a pyramid form, and placed in the most sacred positions of Baal-temples. This, however, is the rendering adopted by not a few modern commentators. (so 2Ch_34:4) Gesenius would render "the Sun-Bard," or "the Sun-Lord," i.e. statues of the sun, representing a deity to whom (see "Phoen. Inseript.") votive stones,were inscribed. In his "Thesaurus" (p. 489) Gesenius instances the Phoenician inscriptions, as showing that our chemmanim denoted statues of both Baal, the sun-god, and Astarte, the moon-goddess.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

he took away the high places ... He built fortified cities

Since Asa was king, he may have told his officials to do these things. AT: "he had his people take away the high places ... He had his workers build fortified cities" (See: Metonymy)

The kingdom had rest under him

There being no war is spoken of as if the kingdom had rest. AT: "The kingdom had peace under him" (See: Metaphor)

under him

"under his reign." A king ruling a kingdom is spoken of as if the king is over the kingdom or the kingdom is under the king. AT: "during his reign" or "while he was king" (See: Metaphor)

the land was quiet

There being no war is spoken of as if the land were quiet. AT: "there was peace in the land" (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

high place

incense

altar

Judah

kingdom

peace

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.