1-kings 15:13

She had made an idol in a grove - The original word, מפלצת miphletseth, is variously understood. I shall give its different views in the versions: -

"Besides, he removed his mother Maacha from being chief in the sacred rites of Priapus, and in his grove which she had consecrated."

- Vulgate.

"And Ana, [other copies Maacha], he removed from being governess, because she had made an assembly in her grove."

- Septuagint.

"Moreover, he deprived Maacha, his mother, of her own magnificence, because she had celebrated a solemnity to her own worship."

- Syriac.

"And even Maacha, his mother, he removed from the kingdom, because she had made an idol in a grove."

- Chaldee.

"Besides, he removed Maacha, his mother, from her kingdom, because she had made a high tree into an idol."

- Arabic.

"Also he removed Maacha, his mother, from the kingdom, because she had made a horrible statue; and our rabbins say that it was called מפלצת miphletseth, because מפליא ליצנותא maphli leytsanutha, it produced wonderful ridicule; for she made it ad instar membri virilis, and she used it daily."

- Rabbi Solomon Jarchi.

From the whole, it is pretty evident that the image was a mere Priapus, or something of the same nature, and that Maachah had an assembly in the grove where this image was set up, and doubtless worshipped it with the most impure rites. What the Roman Priapus was I need not tell the learned reader; and as to the unlearned, it would not profit him to know. Maachah was most likely another Messalina; and Asa probably did for his mother what Claudius did for his wife.

Asa degraded Maachah from the rank and state of queen-mother.

The word translated "idol" both here and in the parallel passage (marginal reference), does not occur elsewhere in Scripture. It is derived from a root signifying "fear" or "trembling," and may perhaps best be understood as "a fright, a horror." Such a name would seem best to apply to a grotesque and hideous image like the Phthah of the Egyptians. She made it to serve in lieu of the ordinary "grove" - asherah, or idolatrous emblem of Astarte (Exodus 34:13 note). Asa cut it down, for like the usual "asherah," Maachah's "horror" was fixed in the ground.

And burnt it at the brook Kidron - Similarly Josiah, when he removed Manasseh's "grove" - asherah - from the house of the Lord, brought it out to the brook Kidron, and burned it there. The object probably was to prevent the pollution of the holy city by even the ashes from the burning.

15:13 He removed - He took from her either the name and authority of queen regent, which she, having been Rehoboam's wife, and Abijam'smother, took to herself during Asa's minority; or, the dignity of thequeen mother, and those guards, or instruments of power, which she hadenjoyed and misemployed. An Idol - Heb. a terror, or horror, thatis, an horrible idol; which it may be so called, because it was of a moreterrible shape than ordinary, and not to be seen without horror.Kidron - That when it was burnt to powder, it might be thrown into thewater, and be unfit for any use.