2 Chronicles 15:10

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 15:10. They gathered themselves at Jerusalem, in the third month — Namely, of the sacred year, in which month the feast of weeks, or of pentecost fell; in the fifteenth year of Asa — Asa had peace ten years, (2 Chronicles 14:1,) after which, probably, there were some bickerings and skirmishes, which seem to have been composed; and after that, Zerah came against him and was discomfited. Upon this great success, many of the Israelites fell to him, and in the fifteenth year he called this assembly.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

15:1-19 The people make a solemn covenant with God. - The work of complete reformation appeared so difficult, that Asa had not courage to attempt it, till assured of Divine assistance and acceptance. He and his people offered sacrifices to God; thanksgiving for the favours they had received, and supplication for further favours. Prayers and praises are now our spiritual sacrifices. The people, of their own will, covenanted to seek the Lord, each for himself, with earnestness. What is religion but seeking God, inquiring after him, applying to him upon all occasions? We make nothing of our religion, if we do not make heart-work of it; God will have all the heart, or none. Our devotedness to God our Saviour, should be avowed and shown in the most solemn and public manner. What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In the third month - i. e. the month Sivan Esther 8:9, corresponding with our June.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10-14. the third month—when was held the feast of pentecost. On this occasion, it was celebrated at Jerusalem by an extraordinary sacrifice of seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep, the spoil of the Ethiopians being offered. The assembled worshippers entered with great and holy enthusiasm into a national covenant "to seek the Lord their God … with all their heart and with all their soul;" and, at the same time, to execute with rigor the laws which made idolatry punishable with death (2Ch 15:13; De 17:2-5; Heb 10:28). The people testified unbounded satisfaction with this important religious movement, and its moral influence was seen in the promotion of piety, order, and tranquillity throughout the land.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

In the third month, to wit, of the sacred year, in which the feast of weeks or of pentecost fell; of which see Exodus 23:16 Deu 16:9.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. Asa had peace but ten years, 2 Chronicles 14:1; after which probably there were some bickerings and skirmishes, which seem to have been composed; and after that Zerah comes against him, and is discomfited. Upon this great success many of the Israelites fall to him, and in his fifteenth year he calls this assembly.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem,.... By the order of Asa, 2 Chronicles 15:9,

in the third month; of the ecclesiastical year, the month Sivan, in which month was the day of Pentecost; and that very probably was the time of their gathering:

in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa; and which seems to be the year in which he fought the Ethiopians.

Geneva Study Bible

So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the {e} third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

(e) Called Shiuam, containing part of May and part of June.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. in the third month] In this month the Feast of Weeks (i.e. of wheat harvest) was held; Deuteronomy 16:9.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - In the third month. The "Feast of Weeks" began about the sixth of this third month Sivan (June). In the fifteenth year. It has been conjectured from ch. 14:1 that Zerah the Ethiopian, or Cushite, invaded Judah in Asa's eleventh year. The present sacrificial festival, in his fifteenth year, evidently was held very shortly after the close of Asa's victory over Zerah This infers a rather longer duration of the war than is otherwise to be gathered from the face of the history. The interval, it is true, may be explained by supposing that Ass lingered long to restore the state of things where Zerah's vast host had unsettled it. 2 Chronicles 15:10

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

At this festival, which was held on the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign, they offered of the booty, i.e., of the cattle captured in the war against the Cushites (2 Chronicles 14:14), 700 oxen and 7000 sheep. הביאוּ מן־השּׁלל defines the ויּזבּחוּ more closely: they sacrificed, viz., from the booty they offered. From this it seems to follow that the sacrificial festival was held soon after the return from the war against the Cushites. The attack of the Cushite Zerah upon Judah can only have occurred in the eleventh year of Asa, according to 2 Chronicles 14:1; but it is not stated how long the war lasted, nor when Asa returned to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 14:14) after conquering the enemy and plundering the towns of the south land. But Asa may quite well have remained longer in the south after the Cushites had been driven back, in order again firmly to establish his rule there; and on his return to Jerusalem, in consequence of the exhortation of the prophet Azariah, may have straightway determined to hold a sacrificial festival at which the whole people should renew the covenant with the Lord, and have set apart and reserved a portion of the captured cattle for this purpose.