2 Chronicles 14
Lutheran reading notes
In 2 Chronicles chapter 14, the account continues the story of the kings of Judah and temple-centered worship. Lutheran interpretation frequently highlights how these events reveal both human sinfulness and God’s faithful promises. The chapter demonstrates the tension between human failure and God’s ongoing grace working through history.
1
So 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.
2 Chronicles 14:1 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And Asa did {that which was} good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
2 Chronicles 14:2 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
For he took away the altars of the strange {gods}, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: {images: Heb. statues}
2 Chronicles 14:3 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
2 Chronicles 14:4 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. {images: Heb. sun images}
2 Chronicles 14:5 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And 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.
2 Chronicles 14:6 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
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 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And 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.
2 Chronicles 14:8 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
2 Chronicles 14:9 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
2 Chronicles 14:10 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
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. {man: or, mortal man}
12
So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
2 Chronicles 14:12 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And 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. {destroyed: Heb. broken}
2 Chronicles 14:13 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
And 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.
2 Chronicles 14:14 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 14:15 highlights covenant history and god’s providence with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.