2 Chronicles 14:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:9-15

Here is, I. Disturbance given to the peace of Asa's kingdom by a formidable army of Ethiopians that invaded them, 2 Chron. 14:9, 10. Though still they sought God, yet this fear came upon them, that their faith in God might be tried, and that God might have an opportunity of doing great things for them. It was a vast number that the Ethiopians brought against him: 1,000,000 men; and now he found the benefit of having an army ready raised against such a time of need. That provision which we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:9

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with an host of thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots ,.... According to Josephus F2 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 12. sect. 1. , this army consisted of 900,000 foot, and 100,000 horsemen, and certain it is there were horsemen among them, 2 Chronicles 16:8 some say these were not the Ethiopians in Africa, beyond Egypt, being, as is said, too far off for such an army to travel, and it would be hard to say what should induce them to it;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 14:9

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, 2 Chronicles 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. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:1-15

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:1-15

The quiet often years. The former half of this chapter may be said to turn upon the welcome subject of the "quiet" (spoken of twice), the "no war" (spoken of once), and the "rest" (spoken of three times), which were now for ten years the portion of Judah. The tender youth and the pious promise of King Asa combined, no doubt, in the providence of God, with external circumstances, to secure that interval of quiet and repose from war from which many blessings were able to flow. We may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:8-15

The secret and the spirit of true defence. We may learn from this narrative of unprovoked attack and triumphant defence— I. THAT OUR UPMOST PREPARATION WILL NOT SECURE US FROM ATTACK . Asa endeavoured to make his little kingdom impregnable to assault by Nevertheless, the Ethiopians came up against him with an army far stronger than his. The military and naval preparations of one country usually incite to greater preparations in another, and instead of war becoming... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:9

Zerah the Ethiopian ; Hebrew, זֶרַח הַכּוּשִׁי , the "Ethiopian," Greek and Septuagint rendering for "Cushite." In its vaguest dimensions Ethiopia, or Cush, designated Africa south of Egypt, but more concisely it meant the lands we now call Nubia, Sennaar, Kordefan, and part of Abyssinia. And these, roughly speaking, were bounded north, south, east, and west respectively by Egypt and Syene, Abyssinia, Red Sea, and Libyan Desert. When, however, Ethiopia proper is spoken of, the name... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:9-15

The remaining seven verses of this chapter are occupied with the account of the invasion of Zerah the Ethiopian, and the successful defence and reprisals of Asa. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:9-15

The human trust and prayer that herald Divine victory. Though God gives nothing for—that vanishing point—our merit, yet he constantly of old gave, now constantly gives, in connection with our own right-doings and fight-praying, in order that his freest gifts may establish a healthy reaction on our experience and on our practical conduct. In the prayer, the appeal, the trust, the simple, practical account of Ass, according to the narrative contained within the compass of the above verses,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:9-15

An alarming invasion. I. THE INVADER AND HIS ARMY . ( 2 Chronicles 14:9 .) 1 . The invader. Zerah, the Ethiopian (or Cushite), commonly identified with Osorkhon (Usarkon) I. king of Egypt, the second sovereign of the twenty-second or Bubastio dynasty (Rossellini, Wilkinson, Champollion, Lepsius, Rawlinson, Ebers); but, inasmuch as no Ethiopian appears among the monumental kings of this dynasty, a claim to be regarded as the Zerah of Scripture has been advanced in behalf... read more

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