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| 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 rested ten years. |
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| 2 And Asa did that which was good and that which was right, in the eyes of Yahweh his God;
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Good and right – In the midst of an unfavorable setting, Asa quickly developed a loyalty to God and soundness of judgment beneficial to his kingdom. R4724:2
We have seen children of evil parentage become nauseated by evil and take right paths. R4724:2
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| 3 and took away the foreign altars, and the high places,–and brake in pieces the pillars, and cut in twain the Sacred Stems; |
Took away the altars – Erected on various hilltops, at which the orgies of heathendom were practiced. R3392:3
It would be improper now for the people of the United States to decide what is false worship and abolish it or interfere with absolute religious liberty because the people of the United States are not God's Kingdom as was Israel. R2364:2
Brake down the images – Asa did much to abolish idolatry in his kingdom and to sway the minds of the people to the reverence and obedience of Almighty God. R4724:3
Cut down the groves – Accessories to the worship of Baal and Ashtaroth by those who affected to be largely worshippers of nature. R3392:3
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| 4 and bade Judah seek Yahweh, God of their fathers,-and execute the law, and the commandment; |
Judah – The two-tribe kingdom. R3392:1
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| 5 and removed from all the cities of Judah, the high places, and the sun-images,–and the kingdom became quiet before him. |
He took away – Such action has been misunderstood to imply that rulers in other countries should take similar action for the destruction of all false religions. R3392:3
It would be entirely improper for any king, governor, president or emperor of earth today to exercise such power, claiming divine approval. R3392:5, R2363:5, R2364:2
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| 6 And he built cities of defence, in Judah,–for the land had quiet, nor was there near him any war, in these years, because Yahweh had given him rest. |
Built fenced cities – Fortress cities as a protection against attack from Egypt on the south and west, from Syria on the north and east, and from the ten-tribe kingdom on the immediate north. R3392:6
No war in those years – Asa had peace for ten years, during which time he encouraged his people and trained an army. R4724:3
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| 7 Therefore said he to Judah, Let us build these cities, and let us surround them with walls and towers, doors and bars, while the land is yet before us, for we have sought Yahweh our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered. |
Build these cities – Fortified cities on the extremity of his kingdom for protection against attacks of enemies. R4724:3
We should erect fortresses of character which will be a defense against attacks of the world, the flesh and the devil. R4725:4, R3392:6
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| 8 And it came to pass that, Asa, had a force bearing shield and spear, out of Judah, three hundred thousand, and, out of Benjamin, such as bare a buckler and trode a bow, two hundred and eighty thousand,–all these, were heroes of valour. |
An army of men – These preparations for war had the divine approval, but in no sense indicated that we should take a similar course, for we contend not with flesh and blood. R3392:6
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| 9 Then came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with a force of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots,–and he came as far as Mareshah. |
Came out against them – To punish Asa for erecting fortifications, etc., to bring away more spoil and to reduce the nation again to the condition of a vassal. R3393:1
Zerah the Ethiopian – Supposed to have been Osorkon II of Egypt. R3392:6
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| 10 And Asa went out to meet him,–and they set in array for battle, in the valley of Zaphonah, at Mareshah. |
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| 11 Then Asa cried out unto Yahweh his God, and said, O Yahweh, it is, nothing with thee, to help whether with many or with such as have no strength. Help us, O Yahweh our God, for, on thee, do we lean, and, in thy name, have we come against this multitude,–O Yahweh! our God, thou art, let not, weak man, have power against thee. |
Cried unto the LORD – A perfectly proper thing for him to do as the representative of God's chosen people; but prayers for victory in war are improper when made by any nation since Israel's rejection of the Lord at the time of his crucifixion. R3393:4
Asa's faith looked up to God, realizing that with him was the power to give or to withhold victory. R4724:3
We are to look to the Lord for victory: "For when I am weak (in myself), then am I strong (in the Lord)." (2 Cor. 12:10) R4725:4
We rest on thee – Pray, trusting God's power. R5380:5*
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| 12 So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians, before Asa, and before Judah,–and the Ethiopians fled. |
So the LORD smote – In the battle which followed Asa and his army were successful. R4724:3
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| 13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued as far as to Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell, so that there was no way for them to recover, for they were routed before Yahweh, and before him host,–and they carried away exceeding much spoil. |
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| 14 And they smote all the cities round shout Gerar, for the dread of Yahweh was upon them,–and they plundered all the cities, for, great plunder, was there in them. |
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| 15 Moreover also, the tents of the cattle, they smote,–and carried off sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem. |
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