Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
For a long time, Israel has been without the true God, without priests to teach them, and without God's law to guide them.
The writer is describing how Israel had fallen into a spiritual crisis, lacking God's presence, spiritual leadership, and divine guidance for an extended period.
📚 Historical Context
In the history of Israel, there were extended periods of spiritual decline, particularly after the division of the kingdom, when the people abandoned the worship of the true God and lacked priests who faithfully taught His law. This verse comes from a prophecy delivered by Azariah to King Asa of Judah, urging him to lead a revival amid cycles of idolatry and moral chaos that had plagued the nation. As a result, Israel faced instability, defeats in battle, and a loss of national identity until they returned to covenant faithfulness.
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