Bible Study 2 Chronicles 14
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2 Chronicles 14 · WEB

Asa's Reforms and Victory over the Cushites

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So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God;
3for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles,
4and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the 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 sun images; and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest.
7He said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.
8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore buckler and spear, and out of Benjamin two hundred eighty thousand who bore shield and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor.
9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah.
10Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and the one who has no strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. Don't let man prevail against you."
12So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. The Ethiopians fell until none remained alive; for they were destroyed before Yahweh and before his army. They carried away very much plunder.
14They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of Yahweh came on them. They plundered all the cities; for there was much plunder in them.
15They struck also the tents of livestock, and carried away sheep in abundance and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
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Summary

Asa begins the best reign since Solomon — tearing down idols, high places, pillars, and Asherah poles, and commanding Judah to seek God. God gives ten years of peace. Then a Cushite (Ethiopian) general named Zerah invades with a million-man army. Asa prays one of Scripture's most powerful battle prayers — "Yahweh, there is none besides you to help... we rely on you... you are our God" — and God routes the million-man army. Asa pursues them to Gerar and returns with enormous plunder.

Themes

  • Reform — the blessing that flows from removing idols and seeking God
  • Prayer as the decisive weapon in impossible battles
  • Rest as God's gift to those who seek him

Key verses

  • 2 Chr 14:11 — “Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and the one who has no strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you.”
  • 2 Chr 14:2 — “Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God.”
  • 2 Chr 14:7 — “The land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.”

Context & background

Asa reigned c. 911–870 BC and was one of Judah's most godly kings. His removal of the high places and Asherah poles represented a serious religious reform in a culture where these cultic sites had become deeply embedded. Zerah the Cushite likely led an Egyptian/Nubian army (Cush = modern Sudan/Ethiopia; but Egyptian armies often had Cushite contingents). Mareshah (modern Tel Maresha, in the Shephelah/foothills of Judah, modern Israel) was one of Rehoboam's fortified cities. Gerar (in the Negev, near modern Beer Sheva, Israel) was a region in southern Canaan. The victory against a million-man army is the Chronicler's supreme example of what seeking God produces.

Cross-references

  • 1 Kings 15:9-15 — Parallel account of Asa's reign
  • 2 Chronicles 15 — The prophet Azariah encourages Asa to continue his reforms after this victory
  • Isaiah 31:1 — "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... but don't seek Yahweh" — contrast with Asa
  • James 4:2 — "You do not have, because you do not ask" — Asa asked and received abundantly
  • Psalm 46:1 — "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" — Asa's experience

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    What specific religious reforms did Asa carry out at the start of his reign?

  2. Observe

    What did Asa pray when facing Zerah the Cushite's million-man army?

  3. Interpret

    Why does the Chronicler tie the ten years of peace specifically to seeking Yahweh?

  4. Interpret

    What is the relationship between reliance on God and bold action in Asa's prayer?

  5. Apply

    What "million-man army" in your life requires the kind of prayer Asa prayed?

  6. Apply

    What competing loyalty or source of false security in your life may need to be torn down before you experience God's rest?

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