Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:1 - 14:8
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Asa's Piety and Military Prowess
v. 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, an interval of peace following the battle of Zemaraim, giving Asa the opportunity of effecting many needed improvements.
v. 2. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord, his God, 1Ki_15:11-14;
v. 3. for he took away the altars of the strange gods, those which had been introduced from foreign, heathen nations, and the high places, for it was on the hills that the places of worship to idols were erected, and brake down the images, memorial stones erected to Baal, and cut down the groves, the wooden posts and sacred trees dedicated to Astarte, the female idol of the Canaanites,
v. 4. and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the Law and the commandment, both in its entirety and in its individual precepts.
v. 5. Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images, the statues before the altars of Baal, consecrated to him as the sungod; and the kingdom was quiet before him, although he was by no means free from faults, 2Ch_16:7-12.
v. 6. And he built fenced cities in Judah, the fortifications erected by Rehoboam having probably been destroyed during the invasion by Shishak; for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him rest.
v. 7. Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, the list surely including Geba and Mispah, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, while it was not occupied by foes nor threatened by invasion, while they were still unhampered in their movements, 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, the Lord Himself keeping all misfortune away from them at that time.
v. 8. And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, not all professional soldiers, but able to bear arms and ready to enter the service at any time, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin that bare shields and drew bows two hundred and fourscore thousand. All these were mighty men of valor. There is a hint here for application to spiritual matters, namely, not to become secure and careless in days when Satan is less active than usual against the Church, but to be prepared at all times to meet his onslaughts.