2 Chronicles 14)
1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, (see Deut. 31:16) and they buried him in the city of David:
G5 D 14:-1,2. Introduction.
E 3-8. Events. Personal. Well-being.
E 14:9-16:10. Events. Public. War.
D 16:11-14. Conclusion.
and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. (there was only border fighting [1 Kings 15:19:22], but no actual campaign. See 15:19)
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:
E F1 f 3. Removal of Idolatry.
g 4-. Exhortation to Judah. Faith.
g -4. Exhortation to Judah. Works.
f 5. Removal of idolatry.
F2 h 6. Defense. Cities.
i 7-. Exhortation to Judah. Works.
i -7. Exhortation to Judah. Faith.
h 8. Defense. Armies.
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places,
(No "discrepancy" between this and 15:17; for the high places referred to their belonged to "Israel", not Judah. Asa could do nothing in Israel)
(See Ex. 34:13. Isa. 17:8)
4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord 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 images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 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.
7 Therefore he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, double-doors, and bars, while 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.
8 And Asa had a force of men that bare targets
(A large shield)
and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows,
(Benjamin known for their prowess with the bow.)
two hundred and fourscore thousand:
(580,000, an increase of 180,000 on his father's. See 13:3)
all these were mighty men of valor.
847 or 846 B.C.
(cp. 12:2-9)
the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah
(Now Kan Mer'ask in the plain belonging to Judah [11:8; 14:9; 10; 20:37. Josh. 15:44. Mic. 1:15)
12 So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
(now Khan Umm Jerrar, 6 miles south of Gaza, 25 from Beer-sheba, 35 miles south-west of Mareshah)
and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were broken before the Lord,
(A complete defeat.)
and His Peoples battles are His own;
(1 Sam. 18:17; 25:28)
and they carried away very much spoil.
(Philistine territory.)
for the fear of the Lord came upon them:
(cp. 17:10; 20:29)
and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
E G 14:9-15. Invasion by Zerah.
H 15:1-7. Word of Yahaveh by Azariah.
J 15:8-19. Obedience.
G 16:1-6. Invasion by Baasha.
H 16:7-9. Word of the Lord by Hanani.
J 16:10. Disobedience.
9 And there came out against them Zerah
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let no mortal man prevail against You."
(He's asking God to show His strength.)
13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerar:
14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar;
15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.