2 Chronicles 15:5

And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) And in those times.—The “many days” cf. 2Chronicles 15:3; the times of national unfaithfulness.

There was no peace . . . came in.—(See Judges 5:6; Judges 5:11; Judges 6:11.)

But great vexations.—For great confusions (mehûmôth). (See Deuteronomy 28:20, where mehûmah, “confusion” or “discomfiture,” is foretold as a punishment of apostacy. Here the meaning seems to be tumults, as in Amos 3:9. “The countries” are the territories or provinces of Israel, as in 2Chronicles 34:33.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 15:5. In those times — When Israel lived in the gross neglect of God and his law; there was no peace to him that went out, &c. — Men could not go abroad about their private business without great danger; as it was in the days of Shamgar, the events of which time are a good comment on this text, Jdg 5:6. Great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries — Hebrew, Of these countries: that is, the various parts of the land of Israel, both within and without Jordan.

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

"Israel" here is used generally for the whole people of God; and the reference is especially to the many apostasies in the days of the Judges, which were followed by repentance and deliverance.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3-6. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, &c.—Some think that Azariah was referring to the sad and disastrous condition to which superstition and idolatry had brought the neighboring kingdom of Israel. His words should rather be taken in a wider sense, for it seems manifest that the prophet had his eye upon many periods in the national history, when the people were in the state described—a state of spiritual destitution and ignorance—and exhibited its natural result as widespread anarchy, mutual dissension among the tribes, and general suffering (Jud 9:23; 12:4; 20:21; 2Ch 13:17). These calamities God permitted to befall them as the punishment of their apostasy. Azariah's object in these remarks was to establish the truth of his counsel (2Ch 15:2), threatening, in case of neglecting it by describing the uniform course of the divine procedure towards Israel, as shown in all periods of their history. Then after this appeal to national experience, he concluded with an earnest exhortation to the king to prosecute the work of reformation so well begun [2Ch 15:7].

Matthew Poole's Commentary

In those times; when Israel lived in the gross neglect and contempt of God, and his law and worship.

No peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; men could not go abroad about their private occasions without great danger; as it was in the days of Shamgar, Judges 5:6, which is a good comment upon this text.

Of the countries, Heb. of these countries, i.e. the divers parts of the land of Israel, both within and without Jordan.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And in those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in,.... There was no safety in going abroad for travellers from one part to another on account of trade and business, the highways being infested with thieves and robbers:

but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries; of the country villages, which were deserted, because of the plunders and depredations of them, Judges 5:6.

Geneva Study Bible

And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. vexations] Rather, afflictions; cp. Acts 12:1, “to vex (R.V. ‘to afflict’) certain of the Church.”

of the countries] R.V. of the lands. The reference is probably to the Israelite territory only; cp. 2 Chronicles 11:23 (R.V.); 2 Chronicles 34:33; and 1 Chronicles 13:2 (R.V. mg.).

2 Chronicles 15:5

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

"And in these times is no peace to those going out or to those coming in." Free peaceful intercommunication is interfered with (cf. Judges 5:6; Judges 6:2), but great terrors upon all inhabitants of the lands (הערצות are, according to the usage of the chronicler, the various districts of the land of Israel).