2 Chronicles chapter 14

Asa becomes king of Judah.

 


 

ASA BECOMES KING OF JUDAH

 

VERSE 1. So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.

Abijah slept with his fathers. That is, “Abijah died.”

the land was quiet ten years. In the previous chapter, there was a war between righteous king Abijah of Judah and evil king Jeroboam of Israel.

In that war, righteous king Abijah won. Now there is peace.

 

VERSE 2. Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes,

This is quite unusual for a king. Almost all politicians are corrupt.

 

VERSE 3. for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,

 

VERSE 4. and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

commanded Judah to seek the LORD. King Asa commands this nine times in 2 Chronicles.

Seeking the kingdom of God is to be our number one priority. Yet for many of us, our use of time and money show that it is a low priority. Read more »

 

VERSE 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.

the kingdom was quiet before him. King Asa brings peace to his nation.

 

VERSE 6. He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

 

VERSE 7. For he said to Judah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

We have sought him. In our own lives, it is more accurate to say, “He has sought us.”

 

VERSE 8. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.

 

VERSE 9. Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

 

VERSE 10. Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

 

VERSE 11. Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you.”

Asa cried to the LORD his God. King Asa trusts in the LORD God.

We disciples are to trust the LORD God with all our heart. He offers us the path of true wisdom. Will you trust in him and act upon his leading? Read more »

 

VERSE 12. So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

the LORD struck the Ethiopians. The victory was the LORD’s.

This reminds us of the battle of David and Goliath. David said to Goliath:

1 Samuel 17:47. and that all this assembly may know that the LORD doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

 

VERSE 13. Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So many of the Ethiopians fell that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army. Judah’s army carried away very much booty.

 

VERSE 14. They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

 

VERSE 15. They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.

 


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2 CHRONICLES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Mount Moriah, The Cloud of Glory

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.