2 Chronicles 14:1-9

1 When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years.

2 Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God.

3 He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.

4 He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.

5 Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.

6 During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the LORD was giving him rest from his enemies.

7 Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.

8 King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men.

9 Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah,

2 Chronicles 14:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Verse 14:1 is numbered 13:23 in Hebrew text.
• [b]. Verses 14:2-15 are numbered 14:1-14 in Hebrew text.
• [c]. Hebrew a Cushite.
• [d]. Or an army of thousands and thousands; Hebrew reads an army of a thousand thousands.