2 Chronicles 14

Abijah lay down with his ancestors and was buried in David's City. His son Asa succeeded him as king.

Asa rules Judah

1 In Asa's time, the land had peace for ten years.

2 Asa did what was right and good in the LORD his God's eyes.

3 He removed the foreign altars and shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the sacred poles,

4 and urged Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, by doing what the Instruction and the commandments required.

5 He also removed the shrines and incense altars from all the cities of Judah so that the kingdom was at peace under him.

6 When the land was at peace, he built fortified cities in Judah; there was no war in those years because the LORD had given him rest.

7 "Let's build up these cities," Asa told Judah. "We'll surround them with walls, towers, gates, and crossbars while the land is still ours, because we sought the LORD our God and he sought us and surrounded us with rest." As a result, the people successfully completed their building projects.

Judah defeats Cush

8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand Judeans armed with body-sized shields and spears and another two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin armed with small shields and bows. All were brave warriors.

9 Zerah the Cushite marched against him with an army of one million men and three hundred chariots. When he got as far as Mareshah,

10 Asa marched against him, setting up for battle in a valley north of Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, "LORD, only you can help the weak against the powerful. Help us, LORD our God, because we rely on you and we have marched against this multitude in your name. You are the LORD our God. Don't let a mere human stand against you!"

12 So the LORD struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

13 Asa and his troops chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until there were no survivors. They were completely crushed by the LORD and his army, who carried off a huge amount of loot,

14 and attacked all the cities surrounding Gerar who were terrified of the LORD. They plundered all these cities as well because there was a great amount of loot in them.

15 They also attacked the herdsmen's camps, taking many sheep and camels before returning to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

Asa's piety, He strengthens his kingdom.

- 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 13:23 in Heb
• [b]. 14:1 in Heb
• [c]. Heb asherim, perhaps objects devoted to the goddess Asherah; cf 1 Kgs 15:13
• [d]. LXX; MT lacks and and repeats we sought.
• [e]. LXX; MT an otherwise unknown Zephathah Valley
• [f]. Heb uncertain; or it is not with you to help between the many and the powerless.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 14

This chapter relates the death of Abijah, and the succession of Asa in his stead, 2Ch 14:1, gives a good character of the latter for his reformation in religion, and for the care he took for the safety and protection of his subjects, 2Ch 14:2-8, and an account is given of a large army of Ethiopians that came against him, over whom he crying to the Lord, and trusting in him, by his help obtained a complete victory, 2Ch 14:9-15.