8 And Asa H609 had an army H2428 of men that bare H5375 targets H6793 and spears, H7420 out of Judah H3063 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand; H505 and out of Benjamin, H1144 that bare H5375 shields H4043 and drew H1869 bows, H7198 two hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand: H505 all these were mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428
And Abijah H29 set H631 the battle H4421 in array H631 with an army H2428 of valiant men H1368 of war, H4421 even four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 chosen H977 men: H376 Jeroboam H3379 also set the battle H4421 in array H6186 against him with eight H8083 hundred H3967 thousand H505 chosen H977 men, H376 being mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428
And when Rehoboam H7346 was come H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 he gathered H6950 of the house H1004 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 chosen H977 men, which were warriors, H6213 H4421 to fight H3898 against Israel, H3478 that he might bring H7725 the kingdom H4467 again H7725 to Rehoboam. H7346
And these are the numbers H6486 of them according to the house H1004 of their fathers: H1 Of Judah, H3063 the captains H8269 of thousands; H505 Adnah H5734 the chief, H8269 and with him mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand. H505 And next H3027 to him was Jehohanan H3076 the captain, H8269 and with him two hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand. H505 And next H3027 him was Amasiah H6007 the son H1121 of Zichri, H2147 who willingly offered H5068 himself unto the LORD; H3068 and with him two hundred H3967 thousand H505 mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428 And of Benjamin; H1144 Eliada H450 a mighty man H1368 of valour, H2428 and with him armed men H5401 with bow H7198 and shield H4043 two hundred H3967 thousand. H505 And next H3027 him was Jehozabad, H3075 and with him an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 ready prepared H2502 for the war. H6635 These waited H8334 on the king, H4428 beside those whom the king H4428 put H5414 in the fenced H4013 cities H5892 throughout all Judah. H3063
Moreover Amaziah H558 gathered H6908 Judah H3063 together, H6908 and made H5975 them captains H8269 over thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over hundreds, H3967 according to the houses H1004 of their fathers, H1 throughout all Judah H3063 and Benjamin: H1144 and he numbered H6485 them from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and above, H4605 and found H4672 them three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 choice H977 men, able to go forth H3318 to war, H6635 that could handle H270 spear H7420 and shield. H6793
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 14
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
2Ch 14:1-5. Asa Destroys Idolatry.
1. In his days the land was quiet ten years—This long interval of peace was the continued effect of the great battle of Zemaraim (compare 1Ki 15:11-14).
2. Asa did that which was good and right—(compare 1Ki 15:14). Still his character and life were not free from faults (2Ch 16:7, 10, 12).
3. brake down the images—of Baal (see on 2Ch 34:4; Le 26:30).
cut down the groves—rather, "Asherim."
5. he took away … the high places—that is, those devoted to idolatrous rites.
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 allowed to remain (1Ki 15:14); so far the reformation was incomplete.
2Ch 14:6-8. Having Peace, He Strengthens His Kingdom with Forts and Armies.
6. he built fenced cities in Judah—(See on 1Ki 15:22).
7. while the land is yet before us—that is, while we have free and undisputed progress everywhere; no foe is near; but, as this happy time of peace may not last always and the kingdom is but small and weak, let us prepare suitable defenses in case of need. He had also an army of five hundred eighty thousand men. Judah furnished the heavily armed soldiers, and Benjamin the archers. This large number does not mean a body of professional soldiers, but all capable of bearing arms and liable to be called into service.
2Ch 14:9-15. He Overcomes Zerah, and Spoils the Ethiopians.
9. there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian—This could not have been from Ethiopia south of the cataracts of the Nile, for in the reign of Osorkon I, successor of Shishak, no foreign army would have been allowed a free passage through Egypt. Zerah must, therefore, 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 neighborhood of Gerar.
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. As Zerah was the aggressor, he had time to choose when he would summon these men and attack the enemy. Every 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, Travels].
10. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array … at Mareshah—one of the towns which Rehoboam fortified (2Ch 11:8), near a great southern pass in the low country of Judah (Jos 15:44). The engagement between the armies took place in a plain near the town, called "the valley of Zephathah," supposed to be the broad way coming down Beit Jibrin towards Tell Es-Safren [Robinson].
11-13. 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. 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 tents of this pastoral horde.