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.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
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:
4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
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.
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.
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.
1 So Abijah H29 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 and they buried H6912 him in the city H5892 of David: H1732 and Asa H609 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead. In his days H3117 the land H776 was quiet H8252 ten H6235 years. H8141
2 And Asa H609 did H6213 that which was good H2896 and right H3477 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068 his God: H430
3 For he took away H5493 the altars H4196 of the strange H5236 gods, and the high places, H1116 and brake down H7665 the images, H4676 and cut down H1438 the groves: H842
4 And commanded H559 Judah H3063 to seek H1875 the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers, H1 and to do H6213 the law H8451 and the commandment. H4687
5 Also he took away H5493 out of all the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 the high places H1116 and the images: H2553 and the kingdom H4467 was quiet H8252 before H6440 him.
6 And he built H1129 fenced H4694 cities H5892 in Judah: H3063 for the land H776 had rest, H8252 and he had no war H4421 in those years; H8141 because the LORD H3068 had given him rest. H5117
7 Therefore he said H559 unto Judah, H3063 Let us build H1129 these cities, H5892 and make about H5437 them walls, H2346 and towers, H4026 gates, H1817 and bars, H1280 while the land H776 is yet before H6440 us; because we have sought H1875 the LORD H3068 our God, H430 we have sought H1875 him, and he hath given us rest H5117 on every side. H5439 So they built H1129 and prospered. H6743
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.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God:
3 for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
4 and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest.
7 For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
1 And Abijah lieth with his fathers, and they bury him in the city of David, and reign doth Asa his son in his stead: in his days was the land quiet ten years.
2 And Asa doth that which is good, and that which is right, in the eyes of Jehovah his God,
3 and turneth aside the altars of the stranger, and the high places, and breaketh the standing-pillars, and cutteth down the shrines,
4 and saith to Judah to seek Jehovah, God of their fathers, and to do the law and the command;
5 and he turneth aside out of all cities of Judah the high places and the images, and the kingdom is quiet before him.
6 And he buildeth cities of bulwarks in Judah, for the land hath quiet, and there is no war with him in these years, because Jehovah hath given rest to him.
7 And he saith to Judah, `Let us build these cities, and compass `them' with wall, and towers, two-leaved doors, and bars, while the land `is' before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God, we have sought, and He giveth rest to us round about;' and they build and prosper.
1 And 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.
2 And Asa did what was good and right in the sight of Jehovah his God;
3 and he took away the altars of the strange [gods] and the high places, and broke the columns, and cut down the Asherahs;
4 and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah the God of their fathers, and to practise the law and the commandment.
5 And he removed out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images; and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because Jehovah had given him rest.
7 And he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars, while the land is yet before us; for we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. And they built and prospered.
1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2 Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God:
3 for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
4 and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest.
7 For he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
1 So Abijah went to rest with his fathers, and they put him into the earth in the town of David, and Asa his son became king in his place; in his time the land was quiet for ten years.
2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God;
3 For he took away the altars of strange gods and the high places, and had the upright stones broken and the wood pillars cut down;
4 And he made Judah go after the Lord, the God of their fathers, and keep his laws and his orders.
5 And he took away the high places and the sun-images from all the towns of Judah; and the kingdom was quiet under his rule.
6 He made walled towns in Judah, for the land was quiet and there were no wars in those years, because the Lord had given him rest.
7 He said to Judah, Let us make these towns, building walls round them with towers and doors and locks. The land is still ours, because we have been true to the Lord our God; we have been true to him and he has given us rest on every side. So they went on building and all went well for them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 14
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 14 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 14
This chapter relates the death of Abijah, and the succession of Asa in his stead, 2 Chronicles 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, 2 Chronicles 14:2, 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, 2 Chronicles 14:9.
So Abijah slept with his fathers, 1 Kings 15:8.
and Asa his son reigned in his stead; in his days the land was quiet ten years; the Targum is, the land of Israel; but much better the Septuagint, the land of Judah; these ten years, in which it had rest from war, were the first three years of Asa's reign, and the first seven of Baasha's, according to Jarchi, and which seems right; after which there was war between them all their days, see 1 Kings 15:32.
And Asa did that which was good and right,.... See 1 Kings 15:11.
For he took away the altars of the strange gods,.... Or of a strange people, of the Zidonians, Ammonites, and Moabites, which had remained from the times of Solomon, and which he built for his wives, 1 Kings 11:7.
and the high places; built for idols; for as for those on which the true God was worshipped, they were not removed in his days, 1 Kings 15:14.
and brake down the images: or statues, or pillars, erected to the honour of idols, and on which the images of them were placed:
and cut down the groves; in the midst of which they stood.
And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers,.... To pray to him, and him only, and attend his worship and service; this he did by a public edict:
and to do the law and the commandment: to observe all the laws of God, moral, ceremonial, and civil.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images,.... Perhaps the high places in 2 Chronicles 14:3 design only the high places and altars in Jerusalem, and near it; these in all the rest of the cities of the land; the "images were", as the word signifies, "sun images", either made in the form of the sun, or dedicated to it, or temples for it; See Gill on Leviticus 26:30,
and the kingdom was quiet before him; he had no foreign enemy to molest him, and so took that opportunity to reform divine worship, and in that he met with no opposition from his people.
And he built fenced cities in Judah,.... For his defence against the kingdom of Israel and other nations, as Rehoboam had done before him; and which might have been demolished by Shishak king of Egypt, when he took them, 2 Chronicles 11:5.
for the land had rest; according to the Targum, the land of Israel rested, and gave no disturbance to the kingdom of Judah, not having recovered the blow given them by Abijah; but it is rather to be understood of the land of Judah, which, as it did not attempt the reduction of the ten tribes, so it was neither attacked by them, nor any other enemy: and he had no war in those years; in the ten years mentioned, 2 Chronicles 14:1, neither with Israel nor any other nation: because the Lord had given him rest; that he might be at leisure to do the above things; all rest is from the Lord, civil, spiritual, and eternal.
Therefore he said unto Judah,.... To the nobles and principal men of the kingdom:
let us build these cities; which he, no doubt, particularly mentioned by name, and pointed at; that is, repair and fortify them, and put them into a better condition of defence:
and make about them walls and towers, gates and bars; which are always made to fortified places, to protect the inhabitants, and keep out an enemy:
while the land is yet before us; in our power, no enemy in it, nor any to hinder or molest:
because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side; had set up his pure worship, reformed abuses in it, and removed idolatry from it, and closely attended to the service of the sanctuary, which was well pleasing to God; the happy effect of which they experienced, rest from all their enemies round about them:
so that they built, and prospered; they began, and went on, and finished, there being nothing to hinder them.
And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand,.... These were armed with a large sort of shield, to protect them, and with spears, to push at an enemy when they came near them, and to close quarters with them:
and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; these had also a lesser sort of shields, to defend their bodies, and bows and arrows, to annoy an enemy at a distance:
all these were mighty men of valour; able bodied men, valiant and courageous; perhaps Asa gathered these together, on hearing that the Ethiopians were preparing to attack him, as follows.
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with an host of thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots,.... According to JosephusF2Antiqu. l. 8. c. 12. sect. 1. , this army consisted of 900,000 foot, and 100,000 horsemen, and certain it is there were horsemen among them, 2 Chronicles 16:8 some say these were not the Ethiopians in Africa, beyond Egypt, being, as is said, too far off for such an army to travel, and it would be hard to say what should induce them to it; and besides it is urged, the king of Egypt would never have suffered them to pass through his dominions, as they must to come to Judea; but that they were the Cushite Arabs, that inhabited Midian, part of Arabia Petraea, and Arabia Felix, near Judaea; see Gill on Numbers 12:1, but since this great host consisted of Lubim or Libyans, inhabitants of Africa, as well as of Ethiopians, 2 Chronicles 16:8, these Ethiopians seem to be rather those in Africa, who were masters of Egypt and Libya, as well as Ethiopia, quickly after the death of Shishak, or Sesostris, see 2 Chronicles 12:2, which accounts for the size of this army, and their passage through Egypt: that there were two sorts of Ethiopians, the western and eastern ones, the one that dwelt in Africa, the other in Asia, appears clearly from HomerF3Odyss. 1. ver. 23, 24. , HerodotusF4Polymnia, sive, l. 7. c. 69, 70. , and HeliodorusF5Ethiopic. l. 9. c. 6. , the former of which seem here meant; nor need this army be thought incredible, especially since they were joined by the Lubim or Libyans, and assisted by the Philistines, as appears by what follows; besides, the two armies of Israel and Judah we read of in the preceding chapter, when put together, exceed this; see also 2 Chronicles 17:14, so the armies of Tamerlane and Bajazet, that of the former being 1,600,000, and that of the latter 1,400,000F6Laonic. Chalcocond. de rebus Turc. l. 3. p. 98, 102. :
and came unto Mareshah; a city in the tribe of Judah, on the borders of it, 2 Chronicles 11:8.
Then Asa went out against him,.... Notwithstanding he brought so great an army with him:
and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah; where the Ethiopians were; he did not stay till they got further into his country, but marched against them when on the frontiers of it, and chose the valley to pitch in, as being more to the advantage of his smaller army; see Judges 1:17.
And Asa cried unto the Lord his God,.... Or prayed, as the Targum, with vehemence, being in distress; this he did before the battle began, at the head of his army, and for the encouragement of it:
and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help; nothing can hinder from helping, his power being superior to all others, and even infinite, and none besides him could:
whether with many, or with them that have no power; numbers make no difference with him, nor the condition they are in; whether numerous and mighty, or few and feeble; he can as easily help the one as the other, see 1 Samuel 14:6,
help us, O Lord our God; who are few and weak in comparison of the enemy:
for we rest on thee; trust in thee, and rely upon thee for help; the Targum is,"on thy Word we lean:"
and in thy name we go against this multitude; expressing faith in him, expecting help from him, encouraging and strengthening themselves in him, going forth not in their own name and strength, but in his; the Targum is,"in the name of the Word of the Lord:"
O Lord, thou art our God: and thou only we know, and serve no other, and we are thy people, called by thy name:
let not man prevail against thee; for should this enemy prevail against them, it would be interpreted prevailing against their God.
So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah,.... With consternation and terror; they were thrown into a panic:
and the Ethiopians fled; before them, just as Jeroboam and Israel had, as related in the preceding chapter, 2 Chronicles 13:15.
And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto Gerar,.... A city of the Philistines, Genesis 20:1,
and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; they were thrown into such a fright, and into so much confusion, that they could not put themselves in order, and rally again; or there fell such a vast number of them, that there were scarce any remaining alive, which seems to be the sense of the words used:
for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host; the army of Israel, which the Lord was, as it were, the Commander of, fought for, and led them in the pursuit, and gave them victory; or it may mean an host of angels, employed in destroying this great army; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions of 2 Chronicles 14:12 read,"the angel of the Lord smote the Ethiopians:"
and they carried away very much spoil; which they found in their camp, and with their slain; even much gold and silver, as JosephusF7Ut supra, (Antiq. l. 8. c. 12.) sect. 2. says.
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar,.... The cities of the Philistines, who were auxiliaries and confederates with these Ethiopians, and colonies from them, according to Theodoret, and who says, about Eleutheropolis was a place, called, in his time, Geraron Saton:
for the fear of the Lord came upon them; so that they had no power to defend themselves, and oppose the men of Judah:
and they spoiled all the cities; of the goods and substance that were in them:
for there was exceeding much spoil in them; great wealth and riches of one kind or another.
They smote also the tents of cattle,.... The people that dwelt in tents for the sake of the pasturage of their cattle; the Scenite Arabs, so called from dwelling in tents:
and carried away sheep; which those Arabs were feeding in Palestine, and which this great army brought with them for their support:
and camels in abundance; which is another circumstance proving them to be Arabs, who abounded with camels:
and returned to Jerusalem; with their spoil, and with great joy.