The big picture
2 Chronicles 14 opens in verse 1 with “So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 8 with “And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred…”, and closes in verse 15 with “They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Judah, cities, rest, Ethiopians. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 152 Chronicles 14:1-8
1–8: So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of…
2 Chronicles 14:1–8 opens with “So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son…” and reaches “And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 14 develops its own movement around LORD, Judah, cities, rest, Ethiopians, with particular weight carried by Judah, LORD, cities.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.” Naming Also and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 14:1-8
King James Version1So 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.
2 Chronicles 14:9-15
9–15: There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a…
2 Chronicles 14:9–15 opens with “And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and…” and reaches “They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 14 develops its own movement around LORD, Judah, cities, rest, Ethiopians, with particular weight carried by LORD, Ethiopians, smote.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.” Naming Asa and Mareshah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD , it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them…” Naming Asa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 14:9-15
King James Version9And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 14:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 14:7 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
2 Chronicles 14:15 leaves the reader with “They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Judah, cities, rest, Ethiopians, land help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What contrasts the two royal encounters?
Melchizedek blesses God as the source of victory; Abram refuses a financial arrangement that would let Sodom claim credit for his wealth.
How does Abram treat Lot after their separation?
He risks resources to rescue him rather than treating earlier disagreement as a reason for abandonment.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.