XIV. (1) SO ABIJAH SLEPT... IN HIS STEAD. — Verbatim as 1 Kings 15:8 (_Abijam_). IN HIS DAYS THE LAND WAS QUIET TEN YEARS. — Mentioned here as a result of Abijah’s great victory. “The land was quiet,” or “had rest” (Judges 3:11; Judges 5:31). The phrase is explained in 2 Chronicles 14:6, “He had n... [ Continue Reading ]
REIGN OF ASA (2 Chronicles 14-16.) (_a_) EFFORTS TO ROOT OUT ILLEGITIMATE WORSHIPS, AND TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM OF NATIONAL DEFENCES (2 Chronicles 14:2; comp. 1 Kings 15:9). (2) THAT WHICH WAS GOOD AND RIGHT. — Literally, _The good and the right,_ an expression defined in 2 Chronicles 14:3. It is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND COMMANDED JUDAH TO SEEK. — ‘_amar_ with infinitive. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 21:17.) The chronicler’s own style is visible in this verse. TO SEEK THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS. — The same phrase recurs in 2 Chronicles 15:12. THE LAW AND THE COMMANDMENT. — Exodus 24:12, “That I may give thee the tab... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BUILT FENCED CITIES. — See 2 Chronicles 11:5; 2 Chronicles 12:4; and for the expression “had given him rest,” 2 Samuel 7:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE. — _And._ THESE CITIES. — The “fenced cities” of last verse. Their names are unknown. Geba and Mizpah were fortified by Asa; but that was after the war with Baasha, which began in the twenty-sixth year of Asa (1 Kings 15:33); see 2 Chronicles 16:6. A general system of defence, like that o... [ Continue Reading ]
TARGETS AND SPEARS. — _Shield_ (or _buckler_)_ and lance._ The large shield is meant (see 2 Chronicles 9:15). The same phrase is used to describe the warriors of Judah. (1 Chronicles 12:24.) THAT BARE SHIELDS — i.e., the short or round shield (2 Chronicles 9:16). DREW BOWS. — (1 Chronicles 8:40; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST THEM. — Against the army described in last verse. Literally, _unto them_ (Genesis 4:8; Judges 12:3). ZERAH THE ETHIOPIAN. — Heb., _ha-Kûshî._ (See Note on 1 Chronicles 1:8 [Cush].) Zerah is identified with Osorchon II., hieroglyphic Uasarken, who succeeded Shishak as king of Egypt. The name... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN. — _And._ AGAINST HIM. — _Before him_ (1 Chronicles 12:17; 1 Chronicles 14:8). IN THE VALLEY OF ZEPHATHAH AT MARESHAH. — This valley is not identified. The LXX. reads: ἐν τῇ φάραγγι κατὰ βορρᾶν Μαρισης, “in the ravine north of Mareshah.” This would involve a change of one letter in the presen... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, IT IS NOTHING TO THEE... HAVE NO POWER. — Rather, _Lord, there is none beside,_ or _like_ literally, _along witli] thee to help between strong and powerless, i.e.,_ in an unequal conflict to interpose with help for the weaker side. _Between strong and_ [literally, _to] ‘powerless._ The same co... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE LORD SMOTE... BEFORE JUDAH. — (Comp. 2 Chronicles 13:15.) Thenius remarks that the words of 1 Kings 15:15, about the spoils dedicated by Asa, help to establish the chronicler’s accounts of this victory and that of Abijah.... [ Continue Reading ]
PURSUED THEM UNTO GERAR. — (Genesis 20:1.) _Kirbet-el-Gerar,_ in the Wady Gerar, about eight miles S.S.E. of Gaza, on the route to Egypt (LXX. Gedor). AND THE ETHIOPIANS WERE OVERTHROWN, THAT THEY COULD NOT RECOVER THEMSELVES. — Literally, _And there fell of Kushites until they had no revival,_ or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SMOTE ALL THE CITIES ROUND ABOUT GERAR. — Philistine cities hostile to Judah. Perhaps they had helped Zerah. FOR THE FEAR OF THE LORD CAME UPON THEM. — Or, _A divine panic had fallen upon them_ (1 Samuel 11:7; 2 Chronicles 17:10; comp. also 1 Samuel 4:7). SPOIL. — _Plunder, booty._ Heb. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SMOTE ALSO THE TENTS OF CATTLE. — _And cattle tents_ (or _encampments_)_, also they smote, i.e.,_ hordes of nomad Bedawin whom they encountered in the desert about Gerar. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 4:41, “smote their tents.”) Sheep and camels in abundance. — _Sheep in abundance, and camels._ The LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]