2 Chronicles 15:15

KJV

And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.

KJV (with Strong's)

And all Judah {H3063} rejoiced {H8055} at the oath {H7621}: for they had sworn {H7650} with all their heart {H3824}, and sought {H1245} him with their whole desire {H7522}; and he was found {H4672} of them: and the LORD {H3068} gave them rest {H5117} round about {H5439}.

Complete Jewish Bible

All Y'hudah was full of joy at this oath; for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with all their will; and they found him, and ADONAI gave them rest all around.

Berean Standard Bible

And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their heart. They had sought Him earnestly, and He was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

American Standard Version

And all Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Jehovah gave them rest round about.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 15:15 culminates a profound spiritual reformation under King Asa, depicting the joyful response of the people of Judah who, with unwavering sincerity, entered into a solemn covenant to seek the Lord. This verse highlights the divine responsiveness to their wholehearted devotion, culminating in God's tangible blessing of peace and security throughout their land, a direct consequence of their genuine pursuit of Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the triumphant climax to a significant spiritual revival initiated by King Asa following a powerful prophetic word. The prophet Azariah, empowered by the Spirit of God, confronted Asa and Judah with a message of divine consequence, declaring that God would be with them if they were with Him, but would abandon them if they forsook Him ([2 Chronicles 15:1-7](/2_chronicles/15-1 "2 Chronicles 15:1-7 - Azariah's Prophecy to Asa")). Stirred by this prophecy, Asa embarked on a zealous campaign to eradicate idolatry from Judah and Benjamin, even removing his own mother, Maachah, from her position as queen mother due to her idolatrous practices ([2 Chronicles 15:16](/2_chronicles/15-16 "2 Chronicles 15:16 - Asa Removes His Mother Maachah")). The people, witnessing Asa's commitment and experiencing a renewed spiritual fervor, responded by entering into a solemn covenant to "seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul" ([2 Chronicles 15:12](/2_chronicles/15-12 "2 Chronicles 15:12 - The Covenant to Seek the Lord")). Verse 15 then describes the joyous and blessed outcome of this nationwide, wholehearted commitment, providing a clear cause-and-effect relationship between their seeking and God's blessing.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Divided Monarchy in ancient Israel was often characterized by a fluctuating spiritual landscape, with kings and their people frequently falling into idolatry, often influenced by surrounding pagan cultures. King Asa's reign (c. 911-870 BC) stands out as a period of significant reform, contrasting sharply with many of his predecessors and successors. Oaths and covenants, like the one described in this chapter, were deeply significant communal acts in the ancient Near East, binding participants to specific obligations before their deity. Breaking such an oath carried severe consequences, often divine judgment. The concept of "rest" (Hebrew: _menuchah_) was a highly coveted blessing in this volatile region, signifying not merely the absence of war but comprehensive well-being, security, prosperity, and divine favor, often linked to covenant faithfulness as promised in Mosaic Law ([Deuteronomy 12:10](/deuteronomy/12-10 "Deuteronomy 12:10 - God's Promise of Rest")). Judah's actions in this chapter represent a return to the foundational principles of the Mosaic covenant, seeking exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent throughout the book of Chronicles and the broader Old Testament narrative. The primary theme is **Wholehearted Devotion**, emphasizing that Judah's commitment was not superficial but a deep, internal, and unreserved pursuit of God, expressed by "sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire." This sincerity is foundational to genuine repentance and spiritual revival. Closely related is the theme of **Divine Responsiveness**: the declaration "and he was found of them" underscores the biblical principle that God actively responds to those who earnestly seek Him, a promise echoed throughout Scripture ([Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Seeking God with All Your Heart")). Finally, the verse highlights **God's Gift of Rest**, a comprehensive blessing of peace, security, and tranquility that serves as a tangible sign of divine approval and favor, demonstrating the direct link between human obedience and divine blessing. This "rest" contrasts sharply with the turmoil and insecurity often experienced by nations that abandoned God, reinforcing the Chronicler's consistent message of immediate divine retribution or blessing based on faithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Rejoiced (Hebrew, שָׂמַח, _samach_):** This verb denotes a deep, heartfelt joy, often associated with celebration, feasting, or a sense of delight and gladness. In this context, it signifies not merely a fleeting happiness but a profound, communal exultation stemming from their renewed relationship with God and the tangible evidence of His favor. It suggests a spiritual elation, a proper response to divine grace and the restoration of covenant faithfulness.
* **Whole desire (Hebrew, כָּל־רָצוֹן, _kol-ratzon_):** This phrase literally translates to "all willingness" or "all pleasure/delight." It intensifies the preceding "with all their heart," emphasizing that their seeking of God was not a grudging obligation but an "act of complete volition, inner delight, and unreserved longing. It speaks to the purity of their motives and the totality of their commitment, highlighting a devotion that permeated their very being and will.
* **Rest (Hebrew, מְנוּחָה, _menuchah_):** This noun signifies a state of quietness, security, tranquility, and relief from trouble or warfare. It is a comprehensive peace, encompassing both external cessation from conflict and internal stability. In the Old Testament, _menuchah_ is often presented as a covenant blessing, a promised state of security and prosperity that God grants to His obedient people, contrasting with the turmoil and oppression that result from disobedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all Judah rejoiced at the oath:"** This clause sets the scene, emphasizing the widespread and unified joy that permeated the entire kingdom of Judah. Their rejoicing was directly tied to the solemn covenant they had just entered into, signifying their glad acceptance of its terms and their hopeful anticipation of God's favor. It suggests a corporate spiritual awakening that manifested in outward celebration.
* **"for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire;"** This explanatory clause provides the reason for Judah's joy and the subsequent divine blessing. It underscores the profound sincerity and totality of their commitment. "Sworn with all their heart" speaks to the internal, emotional, and volitional depth of their oath, while "sought him with their whole desire" further emphasizes their unreserved, delighted, and intentional pursuit of God. This double emphasis highlights the genuine nature of their repentance and devotion.
* **"and he was found of them:"** This is the immediate, direct, and promised consequence of their wholehearted seeking. It signifies God's active responsiveness and accessibility to those who earnestly pursue Him. "He was found" implies a tangible experience of God's presence, favor, and guidance, confirming the validity of their spiritual efforts and the faithfulness of God to His promises.
* **"and the LORD gave them rest round about."** This final clause describes the ultimate and comprehensive blessing that flowed from God's being "found." The "rest round about" signifies a comprehensive peace and security, both internally within the nation and externally from their enemies. It implies a period of prosperity, stability, and freedom from threat, directly attributed to the Lord's intervention and favor as a reward for their obedience and wholehearted devotion.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Cause and Effect** to illustrate the direct correlation between Judah's spiritual commitment and God's tangible blessings. The people's "swearing with all their heart" and "seeking Him with their whole desire" are presented as the clear cause, leading directly to the effects of God being "found of them" and His granting them "rest round about." This reinforces a central theological premise of the Chronicler: immediate divine response to human action. Furthermore, the use of **Repetition/Emphasis** through the phrases "with all their heart" and "with their whole desire" serves to underscore the profound sincerity and totality of Judah's commitment, highlighting that their devotion was not superficial but deeply internal and unreserved. This literary technique draws the reader's attention to the quality of their seeking. The verse also functions as a powerful example of **Divine Retribution/Blessing**, a recurring motif in Chronicles, where faithfulness to God leads to prosperity and peace, while disobedience leads to turmoil and judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 15:15 encapsulates a foundational biblical truth: God responds to sincere, wholehearted seeking. The joy of Judah was not merely a fleeting emotion but a deep, communal celebration rooted in the tangible experience of God's presence and the blessing of His peace. This verse powerfully illustrates the principle that genuine repentance and unreserved pursuit of God inevitably lead to divine encounter and favor. The "rest round about" is not simply the absence of conflict but a comprehensive well-being, a spiritual and physical security that flows from aligning one's heart and actions with God's will. It serves as a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, rewarding the obedience and devotion of His people with tangible blessings.

* [Deuteronomy 4:29](/deuteronomy/4-29 "Deuteronomy 4:29 - Seeking God with All Your Heart")
* [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - You Will Find Me When You Seek Me")
* [Matthew 7:7](/matthew/7-7 "Matthew 7:7 - Ask, Seek, Knock")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The narrative of 2 Chronicles 15:15 offers profound encouragement and a clear blueprint for spiritual vitality, both individually and corporately. It challenges us to examine the depth and sincerity of our own devotion. Is our pursuit of God merely superficial or a matter of "whole heart" and "whole desire"? The joy and "rest" experienced by Judah were direct consequences of their unreserved commitment. This reminds us that true peace and spiritual flourishing are often found not in the absence of external challenges, but in the profound inner tranquility and divine favor that accompany a life lived in wholehearted pursuit of God. When we genuinely seek Him, He promises to be found, and His presence brings a peace that surpasses understanding, even amidst life's storms. This verse calls us to embrace a joyful, unreserved commitment to the Lord, trusting that our sincere efforts will be met with His abundant grace and the comprehensive "rest" He alone can provide.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does it mean for me to "seek the Lord with all my heart and with my whole desire" in my daily life?**
* **In what areas of my life am I holding back from a "wholehearted" commitment to God?**
* **How have I experienced God being "found of me" when I have earnestly sought Him?**
* **What does "rest round about" look like in my personal circumstances, and how can I cultivate it through deeper devotion?**

### FAQ
**What does "rest round about" specifically imply in this context?**

Answer: "Rest round about" (מְנוּחָה, _menuchah_) in 2 Chronicles 15:15 signifies a comprehensive state of peace, security, and tranquility that extended to all aspects of Judah's national life. It implies not only the cessation of military threats from surrounding enemies but also internal stability, prosperity, and a general sense of well-being and divine favor. This "rest" was a direct blessing from the Lord, a tangible sign of His approval and presence, contrasting with the turmoil often experienced by nations that strayed from Him. It encompassed both physical safety and spiritual flourishing, a holistic peace granted by God.

**How does Judah's "whole desire" differ from "all their heart"?**

Answer: While "all their heart" (בְּכָל־לְבָבָם, _b'chol-levavam_) speaks to the totality of their inner being—their intellect, emotions, and will—"whole desire" (כָּל־רָצוֹן, _kol-ratzon_) emphasizes the *quality* of that seeking. It highlights that their pursuit of God was not out of compulsion or obligation, but out of complete willingness, delight, and unreserved longing. It conveys a sense of pleasure and joy in seeking God, indicating that their devotion was not just complete but also enthusiastic and fully embraced. Together, the phrases underscore the profound sincerity and unreserved nature of their commitment to the Lord.

**Is this "oath" a one-time event, or does it have ongoing implications?**

Answer: The oath taken by Judah in 2 Chronicles 15:12-15 was a pivotal, solemn, and public covenant renewal. While it was a specific historical event, its implications were ongoing. Such covenants in ancient Israel were meant to establish a lasting relationship and commitment between the people and God. The "rest round about" that followed was a sustained blessing, contingent upon their continued faithfulness to the terms of the oath. The narrative implies that this act of corporate repentance and commitment set a new trajectory for Judah, leading to a period of sustained peace and prosperity under Asa's continued righteous reign ([2 Chronicles 15:19](/2_chronicles/15-19 "2 Chronicles 15:19 - No More War Until the Thirty-Fifth Year of Asa's Reign")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Chronicles 15:15, with its emphasis on wholehearted seeking, divine responsiveness, and the gift of "rest," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament narrative, including this account from Asa's reign, continually points to a deeper, more complete spiritual reality. While Judah sought the Lord through covenant and ritual, and found a temporary, earthly rest, the New Testament reveals Jesus as the very embodiment of God found by those who seek Him. He is the one who declares, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus Offers Rest")). This rest is not merely the absence of external conflict but a deep, spiritual repose for the soul, a peace that the world cannot give ([John 14:27](/john/14-27 "John 14:27 - Jesus Gives Peace")). In Christ, "He was found of them" is perfectly realized, as God Himself became incarnate, making Himself fully accessible. Our "whole heart" and "whole desire" are now directed toward Him, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). The "rest round about" that Judah experienced foreshadows the eternal Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God, entered into by faith in Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the covenant requirements and offers a lasting peace far beyond any earthly tranquility ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Sabbath Rest for God's People")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 14:7

Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about [them] walls, and towers, gates, and bars, [while] the land [is] yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought [him], and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

2 Chronicles 15:12

And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

2 Corinthians 1:12

¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Isaiah 26:8

Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

Psalms 119:111

¶ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart.

2 Chronicles 15:4

But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.

Psalms 32:11

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all [ye that are] upright in heart.