Bible Commentaries

2 Chronicles 14:1 So 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.

Ver. 1. So Abijah slept with his fathers.] See 1 Kings 2:10.

In the city of David.] There David’s sepulchre was to be seen in the apostles’ days; [Acts 2:29] and there Solomon’s sepulchre, which the Jews had in great esteem, fell to pieces without force offered to it, a little before the last destruction of Jerusalem in 132 AD, as Dio testifieth. ^(a)

2 Chronicles 14:2 And Asa did [that which was] good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

Ver. 2. And Asa did that which was good.] See 1 Kings 15:11.

In the eyes of the Lord.] Not in his own eyes, or the eyes of men, qui larvis ducuntur, which are oft bemisted.

2 Chronicles 14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

Ver. 3. And the high places.] Erected to idols; not the other. [1 Kings 15:14]

2 Chronicles 14:4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

Ver. 4. And commanded Judah.] It is not enough to pull down superstition; but God’s sincere service also must be set up.

2 Chronicles 14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

Ver. 5. And the images.] Heb., The sun images: Hammonim, the images of Jupiter Ammon, as some ^(a) will have it.

2 Chronicles 14:6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

Ver. 6. And he built fenced cities.] Though he had no war, yet he provided for it. So did our Queen Elizabeth; and so must every Christian soldier.

2 Chronicles 14:7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about [them] walls, and towers, gates, and bars, [while] the land [is] yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought [him], and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

Ver. 7. Because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him.] It did his heart good to think how piously they had purchased their present peace; and therefore he repeateth it. See Zechariah 8:19. {See Trapp on "Zechariah 8:19"}

2 Chronicles 14:8 And Asa had an army [of men] that bare targets 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 valour.

Ver. 8. Two hundred and fourscore thousand.] "Little Benjamin" was grown very numerous and potent.

2 Chronicles 14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

Ver. 9. And there came out against them.] Called in, likely, by the ten tribes, in revenge of the late overthrow given them by Abijah.

Zerah the Ethiopian.] Who is thought to have reigned over Egypt also.

With a host of a thousand thousand.] A larger host than that of Xerxes. Josephus saith it consisted of nine hundred thousand foot, and one hundred thousand horse.

And three hundred chariots,] sc., Falcatis et aeratis, armed with scythes, and other instruments of death.

And came unto Mareshah.] The country of the prophet Micah, the Morasthite, in the tribe of Judah. Here, then, was Hannibal ad portas.

2 Chronicles 14:10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Ver. 10. In the valley of Zephathah.] See 1:17.

2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Ver. 11. It is nothing with thee.] See 1 Samuel 14:9.

Help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee.] Adiuva nos, nam te nitimur: Asa found his great army outmatched, and therefore resteth wholly upon God, and sped accordingly, as Hanani afterwards mindeth him. [2 Chronicles 16:8]

For in thy name,] i.e., For thy service and glory, by thy will, under thy conduct, calling upon thy name, and resting on thy power.

Let not man prevail against thee.] Sorry, sickly man, as the word signifieth.

2 Chronicles 14:12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

Ver. 12. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians.] Egit in praecipitiurn, he tumbled them down headlong.

2 Chronicles 14:13 And Asa and the people that [were] with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

Ver. 13. Unto Gerar.] A city of the Philistines, who took part, it is likely, with these Ethiopians, and therefore suffered with them.

That they could not recover themselves.] Heb., There was no life in them; pecoris instar trucidabantur, they were slain as dogs.

And before his host.] His host of angels, saith Lyra

And they carried away very much spoil.] A good amends for the treasure that Shishak, king of Egypt and Ethiopia, took from Rehoboam. Riches come and go, accedunt et recedunt instar Euripi, they do often change masters.

2 Chronicles 14:14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

Ver. 14. And they smote all the cities.] See on 2 Chronicles 14:13.

2 Chronicles 14:15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

Ver. 15. They smote also the tents of cattle.] The Arabian Scenites, who had also aided the Ethiopians, and now had enough of it. "So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord."