2 Chronicles Chapter 14 — King Asa's Reforms and Victory
King Asa leads Judah in a period of peace and spiritual reform before calling on God to defeat a massive invading army from Ethiopia.
1So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; 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 LORD his God’s eyes,
3for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,
4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.
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 the LORD had given him rest.
7For he said to Judah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD 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 bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.
9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops 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 the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you.”
12So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So many of the Ethiopians fell that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army. Judah’s army carried away very much booty.
14They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.
15They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
2 Chronicles 14:2
“Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes”
This verse establishes Asa's character as a righteous leader who prioritized God's commands at the start of his reign.
2 Chronicles 14:11
“Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude.””
This prayer demonstrates Asa's total reliance on God's power rather than his own military strength during a crisis.
Chapter Summary
Following the death of Abijah, his son Asa becomes king of Judah and initiates significant religious reforms by removing foreign altars, high places, and idols. Because he seeks the Lord, the land enjoys ten years of peace, which Asa uses to build fortified cities and strengthen his military. This peace is eventually interrupted by Zerah the Ethiopian, who invades with a massive force of one million soldiers. Facing overwhelming odds, Asa prays for divine help, acknowledging Judah's dependence on God. The Lord responds by striking the Ethiopian army, allowing Judah to achieve a decisive victory. They pursue the enemy to Gerar, returning to Jerusalem with vast amounts of plunder and livestock, marking a period of prosperity and divine protection for the kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions
King Asa removed foreign altars, broke down sacred pillars, and cut down Asherah poles. He commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord and obey His laws, leading to a period of peace and spiritual renewal.
Zerah was a commander who led a massive army of one million soldiers and three hundred chariots against King Asa and the kingdom of Judah. He was defeated at the valley of Zephathah after Asa prayed for divine intervention.
According to the text, the land was quiet for ten years because Asa sought the Lord and removed idolatry. The author notes that the Lord gave Asa rest, allowing him to build fortified cities and prosper.
Study Note
The mention of a million-man army in verse 9 is one of the largest military forces described in the Old Testament, emphasizing the scale of the divine miracle.
Related Chapters
1 Kings 15
This chapter provides a parallel account of Asa's reign and his commitment to religious reform.
2 Chronicles 13
The previous chapter describes the reign of Abijah, Asa's father, and the transition of power.
2 Chronicles 15
The following chapter details the prophetic encouragement Asa receives after his victory over the Ethiopians.
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