2 Chronicles 14

1 ^[a] Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place.^[b] During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years.

Judah's King Asa

2 ^[c] Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

3 He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.^[d]

4 He told [the people of] Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the command.

5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him.

6 Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because the Lord gave him rest.

7 So he said to [the people of] Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded.

The Ethiopian Invasion

8 Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors.

9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300^[e] chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.

10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God: "Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. Lord, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You."

12 So the Lord routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled.

13 Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before the Lord and before His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.

14 Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the Lord was on them. They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them.

15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned 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]. 2 Ch 13:23 in Hb
• [b]. 1 Kg 15:8
• [c]. 2 Ch 14:1 in Hb
• [d]. 1 Kg 15:11-12
• [e]. Syr, Arabic read 30,000

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.