2 Chronicles 14 · Adam Clarke
Introduction Asa succeeds his father Abijah, reigns piously, and has peace for ten years, 2Chr 14:1 . He makes a great reformation in Judah, and builds cities of defense, 2Chr 14:2-7 . His military strength, 2Chr 14:8 . He is attacked by Zerah the Ethiopian, with an immense army; Asa cries to the Lord, attacks the Ethiopians, and gives them a total overthrow, 2Chr 14:9-12 . He takes several of their cities, their cattle, etc., and returns to Jerusalem, laden with spoils, 2Chr 14:13-15 . Verse 1 The land was quiet ten years - Calmet thinks these years should be counted from the fifth to the fifteenth of Asa's reign.
Verse 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, 1Kgs 15:14 . He suppressed idolatry universally, and encouraged the people to worship the true God: see 2Chr 14:3-5 .
Verse 6 Fenced cities - To preserve his territories from invasion, and strengthen the frontiers of his kingdom, see 2Chr 14:7 .
Verse 8 Targets and spears - Probably targets with the dagger in the center, and javelins for distant fight. Bare shields and drew bows - They were not only archers, but had shield and sword for close fight.
Verse 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, 2Chr 16:8 . A thousand thousand - If this people had come from any great distance, they could not have had forage for such an immense army.
Verse 11 Whether with many - The same sentiment as that uttered by Jonathan, 1Sam 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 this great host." - Targum.
Verse 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.