2 Chronicles 14:8-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:1-8

Here is, I. Asa's general character (2 Chron. 14:2): He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 1. He aimed at pleasing God, studied to approve himself to him. Happy are those that walk by this rule, to do that which is right, not in their own eyes, or in the eye of the world, but in the eyes of God. 2. He saw God's eye always upon him, and that helped much to keep him to what was good and right. 3. God graciously accepted him in what he did, and approved his conduct... read more

Matthew Henry

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 14:8

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand ,.... These were armed with a large sort of shield, to protect them, and with spears, to push at an enemy when they came near them, and to close quarters with them: and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand ; these had also a lesser sort of shields, to defend their bodies, and bows and arrows, to annoy an enemy at a distance: all these were mighty... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:10

Then Asa went out against him ,.... Notwithstanding he brought so great an army with him: and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah ; where the Ethiopians were; he did not stay till they got further into his country, but marched against them when on the frontiers of it, and chose the valley to pitch in, as being more to the advantage of his smaller army; see Judges 1:17 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:11

And Asa cried unto the Lord his God ,.... Or prayed, as the Targum, with vehemence, being in distress; this he did before the battle began, at the head of his army, and for the encouragement of it: and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help ; nothing can hinder from helping, his power being superior to all others, and even infinite, and none besides him could: whether with many, or with them that have no power ; numbers make no difference with him, nor the condition they are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:12

So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah ,.... With consternation and terror; they were thrown into a panic: and the Ethiopians fled ; before them, just as Jeroboam and Israel had, as related in the preceding chapter, 2 Chronicles 13:15 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:13

And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto Gerar ,.... A city of the Philistines, Genesis 20:1 , and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves ; they were thrown into such a fright, and into so much confusion, that they could not put themselves in order, and rally again; or there fell such a vast number of them, that there were scarce any remaining alive, which seems to be the sense of the words used: for they were destroyed before... read more

John Gill

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

And they smote all the cities round about Gerar ,.... The cities of the Philistines, who were auxiliaries and confederates with these Ethiopians, and colonies from them, according to Theodoret, and who says, about Eleutheropolis was a place, called, in his time, Geraron Saton: for the fear of the Lord came upon them ; so that they had no power to defend themselves, and oppose the men of Judah: and they spoiled all the cities ; of the goods and substance that were in them: for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 14:15

They smote also the tents of cattle ,.... The people that dwelt in tents for the sake of the pasturage of their cattle; the Scenite Arabs, so called from dwelling in tents: and carried away sheep ; which those Arabs were feeding in Palestine, and which this great army brought with them for their support: and camels in abundance ; which is another circumstance proving them to be Arabs, who abounded with camels: and returned to Jerusalem ; with their spoil, and with great joy. read more

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