So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
2 CHRONICLES 15:10KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 15:10 mean?
2 Chronicles 15:10 describes how the people of Judah gathered together in Jerusalem during the third month of the fifteenth year of King Asa's reign. This verse marks a specific moment when the nation came together for a significant event in their religious and national life.
The context is that King Asa had called the people to renew their commitment to God after a period of spiritual decline. The verse sets the time and place for this large assembly, highlighting its importance by noting both the month and the year of Asa’s rule. The gathering in Jerusalem was a central, unifying event for the people.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 15:10
- "together" (קָבַץ, qavats): This word means to assemble or gather, often used for bringing people together for a common purpose. Here, it emphasizes the unity and collective action of the people responding to Asa’s call.
- "Jerusalem" (יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם, Yerushalayim): Naming Jerusalem as the location underlines its role as the religious and political center of Judah, making the gathering especially significant.
- "third" (שְׁלִישִׁי, shelishi) and "month" (חֹדֶשׁ, chodesh): These words specify the timing, which was likely the time of the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), a major festival when people would already be coming to Jerusalem.
- "fifteenth" (חֲמֵשׁ, chamesh; עָשָׂר, asar): Together, these words indicate the exact year of Asa’s reign, anchoring the event in history and showing the chronicler’s attention to detail.
Why 2 Chronicles 15:10 matters
- This verse shows how the people responded positively to Asa’s reforms, coming together in unity at a pivotal time.
- By specifying the time and place, the verse connects this event to Israel’s religious calendar, possibly linking it to a major festival, which would have added meaning to the assembly.
- The gathering in Jerusalem highlights the city’s importance as the heart of worship and national identity for Judah, setting the stage for the covenant renewal that follows in the passage.