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2 Chronicles 15 · a question people ask

Chapter 14 says Asa took away the high places. How can 15:17 say they were not taken away?

In the text

Chapter 14 says Asa "took away the foreign altars and the high places" (14:3), and "Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun images" (14:5). This chapter says, "But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days" (15:17) (tap high places and perfect). 1 Kings says, "But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days" (1 Kings 15:14). In Hebrew took away (14:3, 14:5) and taken away (15:17; 1 Kings 15:14) are the same verb, sur. The Bible doesn't explain how these verses fit together, and these notes set them side by side without choosing. Chapter 14's honest question does the same, and 1 Kings 15's sets the verdict on Asa's heart beside what 2 Chronicles 16 tells of him.

The verses

“for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,”
2 Chronicles 14:3 · World English Bible
“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 14:5 · World English Bible
“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 · World English Bible
“But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days.”
1 Kings 15:14 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 15

2 Chronicles 15: He will be found by you

Azariah's promise, "if you seek him, he will be found by you" (15:2), comes back twice in this chapter: "he was found by them" (15:4, 15:15), with the same Hebrew verb for found. And his "your work will be rewarded" (15:7) is word for word what the LORD says to Rachel, weeping for her children (Jeremiah 31:16).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions