15:10-15 The ceremony of covenant renewal in the third month was probably during the Festival of Harvest (Pentecost). This great festival brought crowds to the Temple from all the surrounding regions. Disloyalty to the covenant was regarded as treason and carried the ultimate penalty (Deut 17:2-7). The sacrifices were dedicated offerings from the victory over Zerah (2 Chr 14:15).

15:16 The queen mother was the first lady of the realm, usually holding the office as long as she lived. When she died, the title passed to the mother of the heir apparent. There is no indication that the queen mother held official duties, but she wielded considerable influence. • Asherah is well known from Canaanite literature as the wife of the god El and the mother of seventy children, including Baal. The image made of her quite possibly had prominent sexual characteristics, a common attribute of Canaanite images. • his grandmother: Literally his mother. The term “mother” can be used generically for any female ancestor. See 11:20, where Maacah is listed as the mother of Abijah (Asa’s father).

15:19 no more war: Literally no war. Most translations, including the NLT, add “more” to assist in conveying the probable meaning. But if “no war” is in fact the better reading, the thirty-fifth year might refer to the thirty-fifth year since the division of the northern and southern kingdoms. That would have been around the time when Zerah the Ethiopian invaded Judah and was defeated by Asa (14:9-15). But see the study note on 16:1. • The Chronicler inserts chronological notes into his account to divide Asa’s reign into periods that show the consequences of his decisions (see 14:1; 15:10; 16:1, 12, 13). The early battles with the north were seen as inconsequential for that period, though the Chronicler was fully aware of them (see 15:8). The first years of Asa’s reign were characterized by divine favor to an obedient king.