Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 14

Verse 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.

In his days the land was quiet ten years. This long interval of peace was the continued effect of the great battle of Zemaraim (cf. 1 Kings 15:11-14).

Verse 2

And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

Asa did that which was good and right - (cf. 1 Kings 15:14.) Still, his character and life were not free from faults (2 Chronicles 14:7; 2 Chronicles 14:10; 2 Chronicles 14:12).

Verse 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:

Brake down the images - of Baal (see the note at 2 Chronicles 34:4; Leviticus 26:30).

Cut down the groves - rather, Asherim.

Verse 4

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 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.

He took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images. All public objects and relics of idolatry in Jerusalem and other cities through his kingdom were destroyed; but those high places where God was worshipped under the figure of an ox, as at Beth-el, were suffered to remain (1 Kings 15:14): so far the reformation was incomplete.

Verse 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.

He built fenced cities in Judah - (see the note at 1 Kings 15:22.)

Verse 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.

While the land is yet before us - i:e., while we have free and undisputed progress everywhere; no foe is near; but, as this happy time of peace may not lest always, and the kingdom is but small and weak, let us prepare suitable defenses in case of need. He had also an army of 580,000 men. Judah furnished the heavy armed soldiers, and Benjamin the archers. This large number does not mean a body of professional soldiers, such as compose European armies, but all capable of bearing arms, and liable to be called into service.

Verse 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.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 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.

There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian. Zerah (Ewald, 'Geschichte,' 3:, p. 184; also Wilson's 'Lands of the Bible,' 1:, p. 91) is identified with Osorkon I., successor of Shishak. Wilkinson (Rawlinson's 'Herodotus,' 2:, p. 378) throws a doubt on this, and maintains that Zerah was an Asiatic or Arabian, not an African Cushite. The probability is, that Zerah must have been chief of the Cushites, or Ethiopians of Arabia, as they were evidently a nomad horde who had a settlement of tents and cattle in the neighbourhood of Gerar. This also is the testimony of Josephus (cf. Ezekiel 29:10; Habakkuk 3:7, with 1 Chronicles 4:39; also Winer, 'Realworterbuch').

A thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots. 'Twenty camels employed to carry couriers upon them might have procured that number of men to meet in a short time. Since Zerah was the aggressor, he had time to choose when he would summon these men, and attack the enemy. Each one of these Cushite shepherds, carrying with them their own provisions of flour and water, as is their invariable custom, might have fought with Asa without eating a loaf of Zerah's bread or drinking a pint of his water' (Bruce's 'Travels').

Verse 10

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

Set the battle in array ... at Mareshah - one of the towns which Rehoboam fortified (2 Chronicles 11:8), near a great southern pass in the low country of Judah (Joshua 15:44). The engagement between the armies took place in a plain near that town, called "the valley of Zephathah," supposed to be the broadway coming down Beit Jibrim toward, Tell-es-Safreh (Robinson's 'Biblical Researches,' 2:, p. 422).

Verse 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.

Asa cried unto the Lord his God. Strong in the confidence that the power of God was able to give the victory equally with few as with many, the pious king marched with a comparatively small force to encounter the formidable host of marauders at his southern frontier. [ 'al (H408) ya`ªtsor (H6113) `imªkaa (H5973) 'ªnowsh (H582), let not mortal man prevail against thee.] Committing his cause to God, he engaged in the conflict, completely routed the enemy, and succeeded in obtaining, as the reward of his victory, a rich booty in treasure and cattle from the Gerar camp of this pastoral horde which they attacked and plundered.

Verses 12-14

So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 15

They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

And carried away sheep and camels in abundance. 'Driving away the cattle and sheep of a conquered people, and accounting them among the principal spoil, has ever been the custom of Eastern nations, who have not altogether renounced a nomadic life, and whose chief wealth consequently consisted in these animals' ('Nineveh and Babylon,' p. 633).