2 Chronicles 14:12

_SO THE LORD SMOTE THE ETHIOPIANS BEFORE ASA, AND BEFORE JUDAH; AND THE ETHIOPIANS FLED._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

The defeat of Zerah is one of the most remarkable events in the history of the Jews. On no other occasion did they meet in the field and overcome the forces of either of the two great monarchies between which they were placed. It was seldom that they ventured to resist, unless behind walls. Shishak, Sennacherib, Esarhaddon, Nebuchadnezzar, were either unopposed or only opposed in this way. On the one other occasion on which they took the field - under Josiah against Necho - their boldness issued in a most disastrous defeat 2 Chronicles 35:20. Now, however, under Asa, they appear to have gained a complete victory over Egypt. The results which followed were nicest striking. The Southern power could not rally from the blow, and, for above three centuries made no further effort in this direction. Assyria, growing in strength, finally, under Sargon and Sennac

EXPOSITION This chapter commences Asa's long reign of forty-one years. Asa was son of Abijah and grandson of Maachah (2 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Kings 15:13). The reign was remarkable for the devotion of Asa to the true God, and for the signal successes given to him in consequence, but it did not reach its end without a mournful defection on Asa's part from trust in God (2 Chronicles 16:2, 2 Chronicles 16:12), which entailed its reward (2 Chronicles 16:9), and which has left tarnished for all ages

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....

CHAPTER 14 THE REIGN OF ASA _ 1. The death of Abijah and Asa becomes king (2 Chronicles 14:1)_ 2. The good beginning (2 Chronicles 14:2) 3. His victory over Zerah (2 Chronicles 14:9) Asa, (which means “healing” or “who will heal?”), the son of Abijah, began his reign well. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord. The strange altars, the high places and the images were taken away and the groves cut down. He was not satisfied with this work, but he also commanded Judah to seek the Lord. The land was quiet. The Lord blessed him and the land for the faithful work which had been done. “The land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had

2 Chronicles 14:1 to 2 Chronicles 16:14. THE REIGN OF ASA (see notes on 1 Kings 15:8; 1 Kings 15:11). Most of this section has no parallel in 1 K. 2 CHRONICLES 14:1 describes Asa's loyalty to Yahweh, his defences, and his army. For the sun-images in 2 Chronicles 14:5 _cf._ Leviticus 26:30;...

_the Lord smote_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 13:15. The use of The Name, Jehovah (translated The Lord), instead of the word "God" here and in 2 Chronicles 14:13-14 is in favour of the suggestion that the Chronicler took this account from some earlier document. _the Ethiopians_ Rather, THE CUSHITES....

4. THE REIGN OF ASA (14-16) TEXT 2 Chronicles 14:1. 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

REIGN OF ASA This chapter adds to what is related of Asa in 1 Kings 15:9 an account of the invasion of the Ethiopian Zerah....

2 CHRONICLES: GOD DESIRES LOYAL PEOPLE The *Kingdom called Judah 2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER S 10 TO 36 _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 14 ASA – 2 CHRONICLES 14:1B-16:14 THE *LORD GIVES A TIME OF PEACE – 2 CHRONICLES 14:1B-7 V1b Then Abijah’s son Asa became king. During Asa’s rule, the country had peace for 10 years. V2 Asa did what the *LORD his God considered good and right. V3 He removed the foreign *altars and the high places where people *worshipped their gods. He broke down th