2 Chronicles 14

1 And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years.

Asa King of Judah

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

3 He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.^[a]

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

5 He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him.

6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.

7 “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men.

9 Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.

10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

11 Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

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

13 and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the LORD and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder.

14 They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror of the LORD had fallen on them. They looted all these villages, since there was much plunder there.

15 They also attacked the camps of the herders and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 22

1. 2 Chronicles 21:12
2. S Judges 2:2
3. S Exodus 23:24
4. S Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; 1 Kings 15:12-14
5. S 1 Chronicles 16:11
6. S 1 Kings 15:14
7. Isaiah 27:9; Ezekiel 6:4; 2 Chronicles 34:4,7
8. S 1 Chronicles 22:9; 2 Chronicles 15:15
9. S 1 Chronicles 22:9
10. S 1 Chronicles 21:1
11. S 2 Chronicles 12:3; 2 Chronicles 16:8
12. S Genesis 10:8-9; 2 Chronicles 11:8; 2 Chronicles 24:24
13. S 1 Kings 8:44; S 2 Chronicles 13:14; 2 Chronicles 25:8
14. Psalms 60:11-12; Psalms 79:9
15. S 2 Chronicles 13:18
16. S 1 Samuel 17:45
17. 1 Samuel 14:6; Psalms 9:19
18. 1 Kings 8:45; 2 Chronicles 13:15
19. Genesis 10:19
20. 2 Samuel 22:38; Nehemiah 9:24; Psalms 44:2,19; Psalms 135:10
21. 2 Chronicles 15:11,18
22. S Genesis 35:5; S Deuteronomy 2:25; Deuteronomy 11:25; 2 Chronicles 17:10

Footnotes 1

[a]. That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Chronicles

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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible