Azariah (Son of Oded)

Biblical Account

Azariah is a prophet who appears only in 2 Chronicles 15:1–8. Apart from his father's name, Oded, nothing is known of his lineage or origin. His Hebrew name is understood to mean "the LORD has helped."

King Asa of Judah defeated the army of Zerah the Ethiopian (2 Chronicles 14:9–15). As Asa returned from this battle, "the Spirit of God came upon Azariah," who went out to meet Asa and declared the following:

• "The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you" (2 Chronicles 15:2).
• "For a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law." Yet when in their trouble they turned to the LORD and sought him, "he was found of them" (15:3–6).
• "Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded" (15:7).

Upon hearing this prophecy, Asa removed the idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim. He also restored the altar of the LORD that stood before the porch of the LORD's house (15:8). The people then assembled in Jerusalem and entered into a covenant to seek the LORD. Asa also removed the queen mother Maacah from her position because she had made an image of Asherah (15:9–16). Scripture records nothing about what became of Azariah himself afterward.

Significance Within the Bible

In this episode in Chronicles, a prophet's word directly prompts a king's religious reform. The prophecy distills a theme to which the Chronicler repeatedly returns: seeking the LORD versus forsaking him.

In his later years Asa relied on Ben-hadad, king of Aram, and was rebuked for it by Hanani the seer (2 Chronicles 16:7–10). Azariah's encouragement and Hanani's rebuke form a contrast between the earlier and later parts of Asa's life. Hanani's son Jehu later served as a prophet as well. Azariah's name does not appear in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Issues

• The textual problem in 15:8: The Hebrew Masoretic Text reads 15:8 as "the prophecy of Oded the prophet," and the Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version follow this reading. However, the one who prophesied in 15:1 was Azariah, so the names do not match. For this reason some ancient versions read "the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded," and some modern translations follow them. Many scholars hold that part of the name was lost in the course of copying.
• The period referred to in 15:3–6: Some interpret the passage as looking back on the turmoil of the period of the judges, others as describing the contemporary situation in the northern kingdom of Israel, and still others as stating a general principle rather than referring to a specific period. Some have also noted that its wording resembles Hosea 3:4.
• The conditional statement in 15:2: This verse is read as a call to faithfulness to God within the covenant relationship. The emphasis in preaching, however, varies depending on whether weight is placed on God's sovereign grace or on the human response. Some also caution against reading the verse as a mechanical formula for reward.
• Others of the same name: Many people named Azariah appear in the Bible, all distinct from this prophet. They include King Uzziah of Judah, who is called Azariah in 2 Kings; Daniel's friend Azariah, whose Babylonian name was Abednego (Daniel 1:7; see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego); and several priests. The prophet Oded of 2 Chronicles 28:9 lived in the time of King Ahaz and is therefore regarded as a different person from Oded, the father of Azariah.

In the Korean Church

Azariah is seldom treated as a figure in his own right; he is usually presented as part of the story of King Asa. Second Chronicles 15:2 serves as a sermon text urging a faith that seeks God. Because of the phrase "be ye strong," 15:7 is often cited as a word of encouragement and exhortation.