History · Chapter 14 of 36

2 Chronicles 14

Asa succeeds Abijah and does what is good and right, removing foreign altars, high places, images, and groves, and commanding Judah to seek the LORD. God gives ten years of peace, and Asa builds fortified cities. When Zerah the Ethiopian invades with a vast army, Asa cries to God, confessing that God alone can help the powerless. The LORD routs the Ethiopians, and Judah carries off great spoil.

What happens in 2 Chronicles 14

After Abijah's death, his son Asa reigns, and the land is quiet ten years. Asa does what is good and right in God's eyes, removing the foreign altars and high places, breaking down the sacred pillars, and cutting down the Asherah poles. He commands Judah to seek the LORD and to keep His law. Because they sought the LORD and He gave them rest, Asa builds fortified cities with walls, towers, and gates, and Judah prospers in peace.

Then Zerah the Ethiopian marches out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, reaching Mareshah. Asa goes out to meet him and cries to the LORD: it is nothing for God to help, whether the many or the powerless; help us, for we rest on you and go against this multitude in your name. The LORD strikes the Ethiopians, who flee, and Asa's forces pursue them to Gerar, carrying away much spoil.

2 Chronicles 14 in context

Asa begins a series of reforming kings in Judah whom Chronicles holds up as models of seeking the LORD. His removal of idolatrous worship and his God-given rest illustrate the Chronicler's core conviction: seeking God brings peace and blessing. Asa's prayer before Zerah's overwhelming host is a classic expression of faith, trusting God rather than numbers.

This early faithfulness, rewarded with stunning victory, sets the stage for lessons about reliance developed in the chapters that follow.

Main themes of 2 Chronicles 14

2 Chronicles 14 (KJV)

1So 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. 2And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: 3For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: 4And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest. 7Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; 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. 8And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, 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 valour. 9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. 10Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 12So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. 14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. 15They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

Verses to carry from 2 Chronicles 14

“And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:”2 Chronicles 14:2

“Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; 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.”2 Chronicles 14:7

“And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.”2 Chronicles 14:11

Reflection

Asa faced a million men and prayed as one with no power of his own, resting entirely on God. That is often exactly where faith is tested: when the odds make self-reliance laughable. Whatever multitude you face today, borrow Asa's words. It is nothing for God to help. Rest on Him, and go in His name.

A prayer from 2 Chronicles 14