CHAPTER XIV _Asa succeeds his father Abijah, reigns piously, and has peace_ _for_ ten _years_, 1. _He makes a great reformation in Judah, and builds cities of_ _defense_, 2-7. _His military strength_, 8. _He is attacked by Zerah the Ethiopian, with an immense army;_ _Asa cries to the Lord, at... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:2. _DID_ THAT WHICH WAS _GOOD_] He attended to what the law required relative to the worship of God. He was no idolater, though, morally speaking, he was not exempt from faults, 1 Kings 15:14. He suppressed idolatry universally, and encouraged the people to worship the true God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:6. _FENCED CITIES_] To preserve his territories from invasion, and strengthen the frontiers of his kingdom, see 2 Chronicles 14:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:8. _TARGETS AND SPEARS_] Probably targets with the _dagger in_ _the centre_, and javelins for distant fight. _BARE SHIELDS AND DREW BOWS_] They were not only archers, but had shield and sword for close fight.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:9. _ZERAH THE ETHIOPIAN_] Probably of that _Ethiopia_ which lay on the south of Egypt, near to _Libya_, and therefore the _Libyans_ are joined with them, 2 Chronicles 16:8. _A THOUSAND THOUSAND_] If this people had come from any great distance, they could not have had forage f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:11. _WHETHER WITH MANY_] The same sentiment as that uttered by Jonathan, 1 Samuel 14:6, when he attacked the garrison of the Philistines. _O LORD OUR GOD - WE REST ON THEE_] "Help us, O Lord our God; because we depend on thy WORD, and in the name of thy WORD we come against th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:14. _THERE WAS - MUCH SPOIL IN THEM._] These cities being on the rear of this vast army, they had laid up much forage in them; and to get this the Jews overthrew the whole.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 14:15. _TENTS OF CATTLE_] Those which had carried the baggage of the great army, and which they had left in such places as abounded with pasture. Perhaps sheepfolds, enclosures for camels, mules, c., may also be intended. The discomfiture was great, because God fought for the peop... [ Continue Reading ]