The Second Book of the Chronicles
2 Chronicles 14
Chapter XIV · Vol. II, p. 860
1 Asa succeeding destroyeth idolatry. 6 Having peace, he strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and armies. 9 Calling on God, he overthroweth Zerah, and spoileth the Ethiopians.
1 So Abijah aslept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and bAsa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
a 1 Ki.2.10. ch.9.31; 12.16.
b 1 Ki.15.8-14.
2 And Asa did that which cwas good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:1
c 1 Ki.15.11; 11.33. ch.25.2.
1 Not in the sight of 'the Lord God,' but of 'the Lord his God,' to remind us that the act of mercy whereby God 'apprehends us in Christ Jesus' is accompanied by an act of faith whereby we 'apprehend' him of whom we are apprehended, Phi. 3. 12. 1 Co.3.22.—C.
3 For he took away dthe altars of the strange gods, and the ehigh places, and brake down the images,2 and cut down the groves;3
d 1 Ki.11.7,8; 14.22-24. Eze.20.18. 1 Pe.1.18.
e Of strange gods, 1 Ki.15.14. ch.15.17.
2 Heb. statues.
3 'The groves,' in the Hebrew Asherim, were images of the goddess Astarte, one of the ancient deities of the Canaanites. The rendering in our authorized version is calculated to create an erroneous idea.—P.
4 And fcommanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Alsog he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images:4 and the kingdom was quiet before him.5
g ver.3,1.
4 Heb. sun-images.
5 The connection between the peace of the kingdom and its devotion to the worship of God is noteworthy. The Lord gave rest and peace so long as the people were faithful to him, and kept his covenant. 'Righteousness exalteth a nation.'—P.
6 And hhe built fenced cities in Judah: ifor the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
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; kbecause 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.
k Le.26.1-13. De.28.1-14; iv.-vi.
8 And Asa had lan 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.6
l ch.11.1; 13.3; 25.5. But all this strength is soon tried.
6 It is not to be imagined he had such a standing army always organized, and like modern European armies totally withdrawn from agriculture and manufactures. David had but a twelfth part called out at one time, and this it is probable continued to be the model of his successors. See 1 Ch.xxvii.—C.
9 Andm there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with an host of a nthousand thousand,7 and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
m ch.16.8. Is.18.1. Eze.30.5. Who had lately subdued Egypt.
n ch.13.3; 17.14-18. Ps.33.16.
7 This prodigious array would not, as in European armies, consist entirely of soldiers with a regular commissariat and a few camp followers, but would include, as is often the case with eastern armies, the entire population, or at least a vast retinue of servants, counted in the muster, but forming no part of the effective force.—C.
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of oZephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa pcried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, qit is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for rwe rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
12 So the LORD ssmote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.8
s ch.13.15; 20.22; 16.8. Le.26.7,8. De.28.7. Jos.23.9,10.
8 The infidel who objects that such an army would never be brought against such an inconsiderable land will be answered by the classical reader when he remembers Xerxes, Greece, and Marathon; and the believer will rejoice in the light of Scripture, which exhibits, not man's prowess, but God's mercy in every national deliverance.—C.
13 And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto Gerar:9 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.
9 Gerar lay on the extreme south of the plain of Philistia towards Egypt. The valley of Gerar was a favourite camping-ground of Abraham. It would seem that the Ethiopians had invaded Palestine after the manner of a nomad tribe, with their families, tents, flocks, and herds. The latter were left on the rich pastures of Gerar, while the fighting men marched northward to the frontier town of Mareshah.—P.
14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar;1 for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
1 It is evident that Zerah had not come as a mere invader, but as a settler, taking possession of lands and cities. The invasion and occupation of the Roman empire by the northern nations will afford an intelligible parallel.—C.
15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
Notes
[Ver. 3. In the parallel passage in 1 Ki. 15. 14 it is said, 'the high-places were not removed.' It is probable that two distinct kinds of high-places are spoken of—one dedicated to the worship of idols, which were removed; another dedicated to the worship of God, though in a manner not authorized, which were permitted to remain. Of the latter kind was perhaps the high-place at Bethel, and that on the top of the Mount of Olives. P.]
Ver. 9. [Mareshah was an ancient Canaanitish city, in the plain of Judah. It was one of those which Rehoboam fortified to defend his kingdom against the Egyptians, 2 Ch. 11. 8. It was situated near the city of Eleutheropolis, and its site is now marked by a conical hill, the summit of which is filled with caverns. Beside it is a broad and rich vale, running up between low ridges; and away to the south and west lies the broad plain of Philistia. P.]
Reflections.—What a mercy to a church and nation are pious and reforming princes! And it is comely and pleasing when those who attempt to reform others show themselves proper patterns of virtue and devotion: when they act with due patience and prudence, as well as holy zeal; seeking to draw men from their abominations, without offering violence to their persons. However difficult or dangerous it may appear to repress the torrent of iniquity, zeal for God, and dependence on his assistance, will work wonders. Nay, when princes act with due steadiness and zeal in the suppression of profaneness and idolatry, they often find less difficulty than they at first imagined. Men's consciences side with the reforming laws, even while their inclinations are against them. Outward peace and prosperity must be considered as a great mercy. And this reward of fidelity to and trust in God should be improved to promote true religion: yet in the most profound peace it is proper to prepare for war: the clouds will return after the rain. God often tries his people with great danger and distress while they are proceeding in their duty in the work of reformation: but there is no craft or might that can prevail against the Lord their God. And in such cases he is ready to answer their prayer of faith, and grant them an easy victory over their enemies, spiritual or temporal. But how dreadful is the guilt of princes who rashly hurry multitudes of their subjects into ruin, death, and hell! Often they who assist the Lord's enemies against his people share in their just punishments: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.