2 Chronicles 14

Berean Standard Bible (BSB) · English

1 Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years. 2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. 4 He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. 5 He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace. 6 Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest. 7 So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. 8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor. 9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah. 10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. 11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.” 12 So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. 13 Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder 14 and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there. 15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

Commentary — not Bible text

2 Chronicles 14:1

Introduction

Asa succeeds his father Abijah, reigns piously, and has peace for ten years, 2Chr 14:1. He makes a great reformation in Judah, and builds cities of defense, 2Chr 14:2-7. His military strength, 2Chr 14:8. He is attacked by Zerah the Ethiopian, with an immense army; Asa cries to the Lord, attacks the Ethiopians, and gives them a total overthrow, 2Chr 14:9-12. He takes several of their cities, their cattle, etc., and returns to Jerusalem, laden with spoils, 2Chr 14:13-15.

Verse 1

The land was quiet ten years - Calmet thinks these years should be counted from the fifth to the fifteenth of Asa's reign.

2 Chronicles 14:2-5

Verse 2

Did that which was good - He attended to what the law required relative to the worship of God. He was no idolater, though, morally speaking, he was not exempt from faults, 1Kgs 15:14. He suppressed idolatry universally, and encouraged the people to worship the true God: see 2Chr 14:3-5.

2 Chronicles 14:6-7

Verse 6

Fenced cities - To preserve his territories from invasion, and strengthen the frontiers of his kingdom, see 2Chr 14:7.

2 Chronicles 14:8

Verse 8

Targets and spears - Probably targets with the dagger in the center, and javelins for distant fight.

Bare shields and drew bows - They were not only archers, but had shield and sword for close fight.

2 Chronicles 14:9-10

Verse 9

Zerah the Ethiopian - Probably of that Ethiopia which lay on the south of Egypt, near to Libya, and therefore the Libyans are joined with them, 2Chr 16:8.

A thousand thousand - If this people had come from any great distance, they could not have had forage for such an immense army.

2 Chronicles 14:11-13

Verse 11

Whether with many - The same sentiment as that uttered by Jonathan, 1Sam 14:6, when he attacked the garrison of the Philistines.

O Lord our God - we rest on thee - "Help us, O Lord our God; because we depend on thy Word, and in the name of thy Word we come against this great host." - Targum.

2 Chronicles 14:14

Verse 14

There was - much spoil in them - These cities being on the rear of this vast army, they had laid up much forage in them; and to get this the Jews overthrew the whole.

2 Chronicles 14:15

Verse 15

Tents of cattle - Those which had carried the baggage of the great army, and which they had left in such places as abounded with pasture. Perhaps sheepfolds, enclosures for camels, mules, etc., may also be intended. The discomfiture was great, because God fought for the people; and the spoil was immense, because the multitude was prodigious, indeed almost incredible, a million of men in one place is almost too much for the mind to conceive, but there may be some mistake in the numerals: it is evident from the whole account that the number was vast and the spoil great.

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