_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._ In his days the land was quiet ten years. This long interval of peace was the continued effect of the great battle of Zemaraim (cf. 1 Kings 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND ASA DID THAT WHICH WAS GOOD AND RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD HIS GOD:_ Asa did that which was good and right - (cf. 1 Kings 15:14.) Still, his character and life were not free from faults (2 Chronicles 14:7; 2 Chronicles 14:10; 2 Chronicles 14:12).... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR HE TOOK AWAY THE ALTARS OF THE STRANGE GODS, AND THE HIGH PLACES, AND BRAKE DOWN THE IMAGES, AND CUT DOWN THE GROVES:_ Brake down the images - of Baal (see the note at 2 Chronicles 34:4; Leviticus 26:30). CUT DOWN THE GROVES - rather, Asherim.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND COMMANDED JUDAH TO SEEK THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, AND TO DO THE LAW AND THE COMMANDMENT._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_ALSO HE TOOK AWAY OUT OF ALL THE CITIES OF JUDAH THE HIGH PLACES AND THE IMAGES: AND THE KINGDOM WAS QUIET BEFORE HIM._ He 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 destr... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ He built fenced cities in Judah - (see the note at 1 Kings 15:22.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ While the land is ye... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND ASA HAD AN ARMY OF MEN THAT BARE TARGETS 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 VALOUR._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THERE CAME OUT AGAINST THEM ZERAH THE ETHIOPIAN WITH AN HOST OF A THOUSAND THOUSAND, AND THREE HUNDRED CHARIOTS; AND CAME UNTO MARESHAH._ There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian. Zerah (Ewald, 'Geschichte,' 3:, p. 184; also Wilson's 'Lands of the Bible,' 1:, p. 91) is identified with O... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEN ASA WENT OUT AGAINST HIM, AND THEY SET THE BATTLE IN ARRAY IN THE VALLEY OF ZEPHATHAH AT MARESHAH._ Set the battle in array ... at Mareshah - one of the towns which Rehoboam fortified (2 Chronicles 11:8), near a great southern pass in the low country of Judah (Joshua 15:44). The engagement be... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND ASA CRIED UNTO THE LORD HIS GOD, AND SAID, LORD, IT IS NOTHING WITH THEE TO HELP, WHETHER WITH MANY, OR WITH THEM THAT HAVE NO POWER: HELP US, O LORD OUR GOD; FOR WE REST ON THEE, AND IN THY NAME WE GO AGAINST THIS MULTITUDE. O LORD, THOU ART OUR GOD; LET NOT MAN PREVAIL AGAINST THEE._ Asa cri... [ Continue Reading ]
_SO THE LORD SMOTE THE ETHIOPIANS BEFORE ASA, AND BEFORE JUDAH; AND THE ETHIOPIANS FLED._ No JFB commentary on these verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY SMOTE ALSO THE TENTS OF CATTLE, AND CARRIED AWAY SHEEP AND CAMELS IN ABUNDANCE, AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM._ And carried away sheep and camels in abundance. 'Driving away the cattle and sheep of a conquered people, and accounting them among the principal spoil, has ever been the custom of East... [ Continue Reading ]