2 Chronicles 14

2 Chronicles 14:1

a30 Abijak 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. There was no war declared, but only some private bickerings between his subjects and Baasha’s. (See 1 Kings xv. 16.)

2 Chronicles 14:2

And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. See concerning this verse and the next, in 1 Kings xv. 11, 12,

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.) By this it appears, that though Abijah maintained the public worship of God, (as I observed, chap, xiii. 11.) yet there were also strange gods worshipped in some places.

2 Chronicles 14:4

And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment,,. I suppose he set forth royal edicts, requiring the people to worship theLord alone, and to observe all the laws of Moses.

2 Chronicles 14:5

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places. There were high places in the open fields, (mentioned before, ver. 3.) and also in the cities, which were all taken away by him. And the images.] In the Hebrew the sun images, as we translate it in the margin. Certain it is, that the word hammanim imports something belonging to the sun, which Buxtorf renders Solares statute, sun-statues; because, saith Jarchi, they were set on the tops of houses, and so exposed to the sun. Whence Junius and Tremellius called them subdiales statute. But Abarbinel thinks they were in the form of the sun, made after the similitude of that globe, and worshipped by those who took the sun for their god. Others think they wero temples built for the worship of the sun: which the Vulgar Latin follows. * " And the kingdom was quiet before him.] Nobody made opposition to him. -^

2 Chronicles 14:6

And he built fenced cities in Judah. On the frontiers of his kingdom. * For the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.] The Targum thus explains it, Because the land, of Israel rested, neither did they more war against him in those years. That is, the Israelites and their king made no attempt upon him, nor endeavoured to vindicate the late great loss they had received, by the singular providence of God over him. But the meaning may Tather be, that the.land of Judah (which he is speaking of), which had hitherto endeavoured to reduce the ten tribes to the obedience of the house of David, now attempted nothing, nor was assaulted by them or others. Because the Lord had given him rest.] Of w T hich he made this good use, in providing for war in the time of peace.

2 Chronicles 14:7

TJierefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls and toivers, gates and bars. But he shewed his wisdom in this also, that he did not go about this work without the advice of his council, and the elders of Judah. While the land is yet before us.] Which the Targum thus expounds, Wliile the inhabitants of the land are subdued to us: or, as Jarchi, Wliile the kingdom is established before uS. That is, while it is in our power, as this phrase signifies. Because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and lie hath given us rest on every side: so they have built and prospered.] None gave him the least disturbance till he had finished his works.

2 Chronicles 14:8

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, oiit of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, itvohundrcd arid fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.] He was provided also of a great army, if there were any occasion to use it, as well as of places of defence.’ Some think hie raided these men after he heard Zcfah intended ah invasion upon him:but it rather signifies his great care’to have an army in readiness, when he saw no danger of any eneitoy. *>\1.< - irr, c"\«…in r U -;

2 Chronicles 14:9

And there came out against them Zerah tlie Ethiopian. King of tiie\ Arabians, as Cush here signifies: and must necessarily be so understood in chap.xxi. 16. and 2 Kings xix. 9. See what I have there noted; and Bochartus, in his Phaleg. lib. iv. cap. 2. where he’ shews they were/a very. powerful nation; With a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots, and came to Mareshah.] A city upon the borders of Judah, (Josh. xv. 44.) /

2 Chronicles 14:10

Then Asa went out against him, and they set tlie battle in array in the valley of Zepliathah at Mareshah. He did not stay till he entered his country, “but went to fight him upon the frontiers of it. i Ver. 11; And, Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said.] Before’ he began to fight, he implored the help* of Heaven; which ho did, I suppose; in the face of all his army, that they might look up to God as their strength and salvation. Lord, it is nothing with thee: to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power.] Or, as thfc Targum renders it, There is none besides thee, who helpest both the strong and the weak. Help %is, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name tve go against this multitude,] In the Targum it is, We rely upon thy Word, in the name of thy Word we go forth. That is,, by his authority/in confidence of his power, and in the defence of his kingdom and religion. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.]; Nothing could more inspire them with courage, than to believe he looked upon their cause as his own, while they owned him for their God.'

2 Chronicles 14:12

So the’ Lord’ smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah: and the Ethiopians fled. As the Israelites had done not long before, (chap. xiii. 15.)

2 Chronicles 14:13

And Asa, and. the people that, were with him, pursued them unto Gerar. This was a city of the Philistines, who, it is likely, wero their allies and confederates in this war.’ And the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before theLord, and before his host.] The victory w r as so entire, that they could not -rally their forces to renew the fight. It is not said what number were slain, but the word destroy signifies that very many perished; for they fought against the Lord and his host, who made a great destruction among them.