2 Chronicles 14 Bible Commentary

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

(Read all of 2 Chronicles 14)

Verse 1

[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.

Quiet — There was no open war, but there were private hostilities between his and Baasha's subjects.

Verse 6

[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.

The land had rest — Those have rest indeed, to whom God gives rest; peace indeed, to whom Christ gives peace. We find by experience, it is good to seek the Lord. While we pursue the world, we meet with nothing but vexation.

Verse 7

[7] 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.

Before us — In our power.

Verse 9

[9] And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

Ethiopian — Or, the Arabian, as the Hebrew word Cush is commonly used: these being much nearer to Asa than the Ethiopians.

Verse 11

[11] 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.

Let not man prevail — If he prevails against us, he prevails, as it were, against thee; because thou art our God. And we rest on thee, and go forth in thy name, which thou hast encouraged us to do.

Verse 12

[12] So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

Smote — With terror, and an unaccountable consternation.

Verse 14

[14] And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

Smote the cities — because they had joined, with Zerah in this war.