UNROLL
Dawn over a broad valley in the Judean lowland: green barley fields and scattered oaks, the low mound of Mareshah with its plain town wall on the right, and a faint haze of dust far off on the southern horizon, under a calm, pale, empty sky.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 14

Ten years of peace, a land cleared of idols, and then an army of a million comes up from the south.

15 verses≈ 3 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to AsaChapter 14
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God's
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to Joash
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

Asa Reigns in Judah

Judah

Asa of Judah · 41 years

  1. Abijah buried in David’s city

    Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

  2. Asa king; ten years of peace

    And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

  3. did right

    Good and right

    And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Asa
Asa

Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest. So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours 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.

Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

Reflect

Rest on every side

Asa used the years of peace to seek the LORD and to build: “So they built and prospered.” What are you doing with your quiet seasons? Write down one thing you will build, in your heart or your home, while things are calm.

JudahJerusalemMareshahGerar

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From Mareshah to Gerar

Zerah came up from the south as far as Mareshah in the lowland, one of the towns Rehoboam had fortified. Asa met him in the valley near Mareshah, and Judah pursued the Cushites as far as Gerar, toward the Negev.

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah. So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

2 Chronicles 14:11

So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army.

Evening on the road north through the hills toward Jerusalem: the men of Judah, spears on their shoulders, drive great flocks of sheep and a string of camels ahead of them in clouds of golden dust, laden donkeys among them, under a calm, warm sky.

So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there. They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

0:29

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Question

Quick question

Zerah’s army was far larger than Judah’s.

When Zerah came with his vast army, what did Asa do first?

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2 Chronicles 14

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A verse to carry with you

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

2 Chronicles 14:11

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