Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary2 Chronicles 14

Quiet ten years. Compare v. 6. This point is not mentioned in Kings, where the record simply states that “there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days” (1 Kings 15:16). The statement does not mean that there were open hostilities between Israel and Judah throughout Asa’s long reign of 41 years (2 Chron. 16:13 cf. 1Kings 15:10; on the reckoning of the reign see Vol. II, p. 137) but that there was no real peace between the two nations.

Ellen G. White

That which was good. The parallel record adds, “as did David his father” (1 Kings 15:11).

Took away the altars. This verse presents a picture of the terrible idolatry into which the nation had lapsed since the reign of David. The record of Asa’s reformatory movement in 1 Kings 15:12 begins with the statement that “he took away the sodomites out of the land,” a revelation of the sad pass to which the nation had come. High places. Compare 2 Chron. 15:17 and 1 Kings 15:14. The high places removed by Asa were evidently those devoted to the worship of idols, for they are mentioned in that connection. However, Asa either permitted the unauthorized local sanctuaries dedicated to the worship of Jehovah to continue, or, if his campaign was directed against all high places, it was not completely successful, for “the high places were not taken away” (see on 2 Chron. 15:17; 1 Kings 15:14). Images. Heb. maṣṣeboth, literally, “pillars.” These were sacred stones that were common in Palestine in those days and formed part of the corrupt forms of religion native to Palestine. Moses commanded the destruction of the maṣṣeboth (see on Deut. 12:3; 16:22). Some think these “pillars” were phallic emblems. Groves. Heb. ’asherim, wooden poles, or sacred trees, emblems of the Canaanite goddess of fertility (see on Judges 3:7). The ’asherim are frequently mentioned in connection with the worship of Baal (Judges 6:25, 28). Moses forbade the Israelites to place a “grove” near an altar for the Lord and commanded that such idolatrous emblems be destroyed (see on Deut. 7:5; 16:21).

High places. See on v. 3. Images. Heb. chammanim, a different term from the one translated “images” in v. 3. Chammanim may be from the root chamman, “to be warm.” Hence the word has been applied by some to sun pillars; however, the prevailing opinion now seems to be to interpret chammanim as “incense altars” Chammanim occurs also in Lev. 26:30 and Isa. 27:9.

Built fenced cities. Compare ch. 11:5–12.

Build these cities. A general system of defense is referred to, both in the south against Egypt and in the north against Israel. Asa did all that was in his power to strengthen his kingdom and to prepare for dangers that were certain to threaten, so that his people might not suffer from the aggressions of hostile neighbors.

Targets. Large shields (see on 2 Chron. 9:15; 1 Kings 10:16). Three hundred thousand. Compare ch. 13:3. Probably this was not the size of Asa’s standing army but constituted the number of males in the nation, capable of bearing arms, who would be available in case of emergency.

Zerah the Ethiopian. As yet we have not been able to identify Zerah from contemporary records. Since there were Cushites in western Arabia and eastern Africa bordering on the Red Sea (see Gen. 10:6), Zerah may have been from that region. He may have had Libyan auxiliary forces in his army, from Egypt, where a Libyan dynasty ruled. Asa had done what he could to build up the national defenses and train an army (2 Chron. 14:6–8). So when Zerah struck, Judah was ready. A thousand thousand. Some think that this symmetrical number expresses the thought of a very large host in the same way as we today speak of a “myriad” without intending to convey the idea of exactly or even approximately “ten thousand,” the literal meaning of the term. Those who hold this opinion point out that a million men would be

entirely out of proportion. Be that as it may, Zerah’s forces were obviously an overwhelming “multitude” to Asa and his army. See pp. 122, 123. Mareshah. One of the fortresses that Rehoboam had built (ch. 11:8). It was located in the lowland of Judah, about 25 mi. southwest of Jerusalem.

Valley of Zephathah. Northwest of Mareshah is a broad wadi opening up into the Philistine plain. This is probably the region referred to. With the arrival of Asa’s forces, Zerah doubtless drew off into the wider expanse of the wadi, where he could make use of his chariots.

Cried unto the Lord. Asa had prepared cities of defense and he had a large and well-equipped army. But his trust was not alone in arms or men, but in God. As he faced the enemy, he did so in the name of the Lord and as a representative of God. Against thee. Facing Zerah in the name of the Lord, Asa felt that his own defeat would be a defeat for the Lord.

Ellen G. White

The Lord smote. The Lord enabled Asa to gain an amazing victory. Judah had powerful enemies, both to the north and to the south. Left to herself she would quickly have succumbed before the superior might of the forces arrayed against her. But with God’s help she was invincible. The attack of Zerah was the last serious threat that Judah was to meet from the south. Henceforth her enemies were from the north—first, Assyria under Sennacherib, and then Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, who brought the nation down in ruin.

Gerar. A city about 11 mi. (17.7 km.) southeast of Gaza, on the route to Egypt. His host. The army of Asa. God’s people were instruments in His hands to perform His work.

Smote all the cities. These cities around Gerar were Philistine cities. No doubt they had helped Zerah. The fear of the Lord. When God manifests His mighty power in behalf of His people, a divine fear seizes the enemy, and there is no longer courage or strength to resist (see ch. 17:10).

Camels. Gerar was on the border of the southern desert between Palestine and Egypt, and the inhabitants of that region would therefore have many camels (see 1 Sam. 27:9; 30:17).