2 Chronicles14
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God:
3for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
4and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest.
7For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8And Asa had an army that bare bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah.
10Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
12So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.
14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.
15They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Chronicles 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Asa's piety, He strengthens his kingdom. (1-15).
vv1-15
Asa aimed at pleasing God, and studied to approve himself to him. Happy those that walk by this rule, not to do that which is right in their own eyes, or in the eye of the world, but which is so in God's sight. We find by experience that it is good to seek the Lord; it gives us rest; while we pursue the world, we meet with nothing but vexation. Asa consulted with his people how to make a good use of the peace they enjoyed; and concluded with them that they must not be idle, nor secure. A formidable army of Ethiopians invaded Asa's kingdom. This evil came upon them, that their faith in God might be tried. Asa's prayer is short, but it is the real language of faith and expectation from God. When we go forth in God's name, we cannot but prosper, and all things work together for the good of those whom he favours.
Key Words
אֲבִיָּה: Abijah, the name of several Israelite men and two Israelitesses
שָׁכַב: to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
קָבַר: to inter
עִיר: a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אָסָא: Asa, the name of a king and of a Levite
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
תַּחַת: the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Cross References
2 Chronicles 14Direct parallel text affirming Asa's righteousness in the eyes of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account detailing the incomplete removal of certain high places despite reforms.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of Asa's immediate action removing idols and sodomites from the land.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Later retrospective referencing Zerah's massive army of Ethiopians and Lubims.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Compares military sizes; Abijah's prior army versus Asa's mobilized forces.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the geographic location of Mareshah in the low country of Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jonathan's principle that the Lord can save by many or by few.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The complete parallel historical record of the reign of Asa.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Law demanding destruction of high places and sun-images, executed by Asa.
Supported by JFB
Parallel reformation under Josiah destroying images and groves.
Supported by JFB
Previous context of fortified cities built by Rehoboam for defense.
Supported by JFB
Jehoshaphat's similar desperate prayer acknowledging no power against a great multitude.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Further detail on the covenant rest given to Judah after seeking God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Defines Gerar as an ancient border city near the Philistines.
Supported by Matthew Poole