John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them , etc.] The proselytes of the gate: out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon : out of all the places in those tribes that had come off to him, or had been taken by him; for otherwise these belonged to the ten tribes under the government of Jeroboam, and his successors, and the next clause explains it: for they fell to him out of Israel abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him ; as was clear by the victory he gave him over the Ethiopians; after that time many in the above tribes came over to him; the Targum is, “when they saw the Word of the Lord his God was his help.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The people make a solemn covenant with God.
--The work of complete reformation appeared so difficult, that Asa ha not courage to attempt it, till assured of Divine assistance an acceptance. He and his people offered sacrifices to God; thanksgivin for the favours they had received, and supplication for furthe 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, inquirin after him, applying to him upon all occasions? We make nothing of ou 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 avowe and shown in the most solemn and public manner. What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויקבץ6908 את853 כל3605 יהודה3063 ובנימן1144 והגרים1481 עמהם5973 מאפרים669 ומנשׁה4519 ומשׁמעון8095 כי3588 נפלו5307 עליו5921 מישׂראל3478 לרב7230 בראתם7200 כי3588 יהוה3068 אלהיו430 עמו׃5973
