_Simeon_] The territory of this tribe lay in the South (1 Chronicles iv. 28‒43; Joshua xix. 1‒9), and it is natural to think that at the disruption Simeon followed Judah in allegiance to the house of David. Here, however, and in xxxiv. 6 it is reckoned as one of the ten tribes forming the Northern Kingdom, for what reason it is hard to say. The traditions relating to the tribe are far from clear (see _Encyclopedia Britannica_ s.v. _Simeon_). ¹⁰So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. =10.= _in the third month_] In this month the Feast of Weeks (i.e. of wheat harvest) was held; Deuteronomy xvi. 9. ¹¹And they sacrificed unto the LORD in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. =11.= _the spoil_] Compare xiv. 13‒15. ¹²And they entered into the covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul; =12.= _they entered into the covenant_] Compare xxix. 10; 2 Kings xxiii. 3. ¹³and that whosoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. =13.= _should be put to death_] According to the Law; Deuteronomy xvii. 2‒7. ¹⁴And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. =14.= _shouting_] The word (_terū‘āh_) is used to denote a blast with the festal trumpets; see next note. _trumpets_] The word (_hăṣōṣĕrāh_) means a special kind of trumpet used only for religious purposes; Numbers x. 1‒10; 1 Chronicles xv. 24 (note). Driver, _Amos_, pp. 144‒6, gives an illustration derived from the Arch of Titus. ¹⁵And 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. =15.= _he was found of them_] A fulfilment of the promise given in verse 2. =16‒19= (1 Kings xv. 13‒15). OTHER RELIGIOUS MEASURES OF ASA. ¹⁶And also Maacah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen¹, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah²; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. ¹ Or, _queen mother_. ² Or, _for Asherah_. =16.= _And also Maacah_] “Maacah the daughter of Abishalom” is described as the mother of Abijam (Abijah) in 1 Kings xv. 2 and as the mother of Asa in 1 Kings xv. 10, although Asa is described as the son of Abijam (Abijah) in 1 Kings xv. 8. Most probably Maacah was the grandmother of Asa but retained her position as queen mother during two reigns, i.e. until removed by Asa. _from being queen_] Or, as margin, =from being queen mother=.