Maachah his mother] 2 Chron. 15. 16. queen] Though the king her husband were dead, yet she retained a royall dignity, yea, and authority too, at least over her own court, in her sons, and grand-childes time, and probable it is, that she had a command over such as were of her idolatrous religion. The wives of kings deceased, are still called queen-mothers. Such an one was Athaliah, 2 Chronicles 22:2-3. Asa deprived his mother of all dignity, and authority which either she had by custome, or usurped. idol] The Hebrew word signifieth an horrible thing. This idol was horrible in the uglinesse and filthinesse of it: so as the worst of idols were brought in among the Jews. See chap. 11. 7. in a grove] See chap. 16. 33. destroyed] Heb. cut off. burnt it] To shew his great indignation against it: and utterly to abolish it, Deuteronomy 7:5. Kidron] See chap. 2. 37. He burnt it by this river, that he might cast the ashes of it thereinto, and so nothing at all thereof be preserved, 2 Kings 23:12. see Exodus 32:20.