BibleWord.ai›Bible›2 Chronicles›Chapter 14

2 Chronicles Chapter 14

Old Testament Historical 15 Verses

What is 2 Chronicles 14 about?

Solomon's Temple construction and the history of the Judean kings through Josiah's reformation and the Babylonian exile. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1So 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.
2And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God:
3for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
4and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6And 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.
7For 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.
8And Asa had an army that bare bucklers 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 valor.
9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah.
10Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
12So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.
14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.
15They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
← 2 Chronicles 132 Chronicles 15 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“So Abijah slept with his fathers, (<111508>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 <111532>1 Kings 15:32,33).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“ASA DESTROYS IDOLATRY. (Ch2 14:1-5) 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 Kg1 15:11-14).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Asa his son reigned - If Rehoboam was (1 Kings 12:8 note) not more than 21 years old at his accession, Asa, when he mounted the throne, must have been a mere boy, not more than 10 or 11 years of age. The land was quiet ten years - The great blow struck by Abijah 2 Chronicles 13:15-19, his alliance with Syria 1 Kings 15:19, and the rapid succession of sovereigns in Israel during the earlier part of Asa’s reign 1 Kings 15:25-33, would naturally prevent disturbance on the part of the northern kingdom. The tender age of Asa himself would be a bar to warlike enterprises on the part of Judah. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Quiet - There was no open war, but there were private hostilities between his and Baasha's subjects. 2 Chronicles 14:6”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“14:1 Asa reigned from 910 to 869 BC.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“am 3049, bc 955 slept: Ch2 9:31; Kg1 2:10, Kg1 14:31 Asa: 1Kings 15:8-24; Ch1 3:10; Mat 1:7, Mat 1:8 2 Chronicles 14:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“Ch2 14:1-3 Asa's efforts for the abolition of idolatry and the establishment of the kingdom. - Ch2 14:1-4. The good and right in God's eyes which Asa did is further defined in Ch2 14:2-4. He abolished all the objects of the idolatrous worship. The "altars of the strangers" are altars consecrated to foreign gods; from them the בּמות, high places, are distinguished-these latter being illegal places of sacrifice connected with the worship of Jahve (see on Kg1 15:14). The מצּבוה are the statues or monumental columns consecrated to Baal, and אשׁרים the wooden idols, tree-trunks, or trees, which were consecrated to…”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

2 Chronicles overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

Sources and verification