2 Chronicles 14:7

“Therefore he said unto Judah, etc.] 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…”

“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.”

“The land is yet before us - i. e., “unoccupied by an enemy” - “the land is open to us to go where we please.” Compare Genesis 13:9. The fortification of the strongholds would be an act of rebellion against Egypt, and it might be expected that the Egyptians would endeavor to put a stop to it. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Before us - In our power. 2 Chronicles 14:9”

“14:7-14 Solomon had prayed that the Lord would hear his people when they were led into battle (6:34). In the battle against Zerah, God responded to such a prayer. • Ethiopian (literally “Cushite”) might refer to someone from southern Egypt (Nubia) or a Midianite territory northeast of Aqabah (see Num 12:1; Hab 3:7). However, the mention of Libya in 2 Chr 16:8, the size of the battle (comparable to the attack of Shishak against Rehoboam in 12:3), and the location of Mareshah in the west of Judah indicate that Zerah was an Egyptian; he is otherwise unknown. He might have been a Nubian general dispatched by Osorkon I, the Libyan pharaoh who ruled Egypt between the tenth and fourteenth years of…”

“Therefore: Ch2 32:5; Act 9:31 while the land: Joh 9:4, Joh 12:35, Joh 12:36; Heb 3:13-15 we have sought: Ch2 14:4; Ch1 28:9; Psa 105:3, Psa 105:4; Jer 29:12-14; Pe1 3:12 and he hath given: Ch2 14:6; Jos 23:1; Mat 11:28, Mat 11:29 2 Chronicles 14:8”