2 Chronicles 15:11

And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) The same time.—On that day; viz., the day appointed for the festival, in the third month, i.e., Sivan, corresponding to part of May and June.

Of the spoil which they had brought.—The spoil of Zerah, the cities round Gerar, and the nomadic tribes (2Chronicles 14:13-15).

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 15:11-12. They offered of the spoil which they had brought — Taken from Zerah, and his army and allies. They entered into a covenant, &c. — Repenting that they had violated their engagements to God, and resolving to attend to, and endeavour to fulfil them in future. The matter of this covenant was nothing but what they were before obliged to. And though no promise could lay any higher obligation upon them than they were already under, yet it would help to increase their sense of the obligation, and to arm them against temptations: and, by joining all together in this, they strengthened the hands of each other. To seek the God of their fathers — In the way their fathers had sought him, and in dependence on the promise made to their fathers; with all their heart, and with all their soul — For only those seek God acceptably and successfully, who seek him thus. God demands all the heart: and when such an inestimable blessing as the divine favour is to be found, it is proper that the whole heart should be engaged in the pursuit of it.

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

The prevalence of the number "seven" in the religious system of the Jews has been noticed often. Seven bullocks and seven rams were a common offering Numbers 29:32; 1 Chronicles 15:26; 2 Chronicles 29:21; Job 42:8; Ezekiel 14:23. At the larger sacrifices, however, it is seldom that we find the number seven at all prominent (compare 2 Chronicles 30:24; 2 Chronicles 35:7-9; 1 Kings 8:63).

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

Taken from Zerah and his accomplices, 2 Chronicles 14:13, &c.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they offered unto the Lord the same time,.... The Targum adds, on the feast of weeks, or Pentecost: of the spoil which they had brought; from the camp of the Ethiopians, and the cities of the Philistines:

seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep; partly for burnt offerings, and partly for peace offerings, by way of thankfulness to the Lord for the victory he had given them, and for a feast at the making of the following covenant with him.

Geneva Study Bible

And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the {f} spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

(f) Which they had taken of the Ethiopians.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. the same time] R.V. in that day.

the spoil] Cp. 2 Chronicles 14:13-15.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - These offerings were probably chiefly of the nature of peace offerings (Leviticus 7:11-21). In the mention of the "spoil" (2 Chronicles 14:13, 15) nothing is said of oxen. Seven hundred... seven thousand. The number seven is common when the sacrifices were in units (as e.g. Numbers 29:32; 1 Chronicles 15:26, etc.), but uncommon in hundreds and thousands, for see 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 35:7-9, comparing, however, 2 Chronicles 30:24. 2 Chronicles 15:11

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.