2 Chronicles 14 explained: Asa Seeks God and Faces Invasion

A new king clears the shrines (vv. 1-5)

Asa tore down altars to other gods, local hilltop shrines called high places, standing stones, and wooden poles linked to the goddess Asherah, and told the people to follow the LORD's laws. The parallel account in 1 Kings 15:14 says some high places stayed, so his clean-up was likely not total, perhaps removing only the shrines to other gods.

Building while it is calm (vv. 6-8)

Asa treats the peace as a gift from the LORD and uses it to put walls, towers and gates around his towns before trouble comes. The army counts every man who could be called up, not full-time soldiers: Judah's men carried big shields and spears, and Benjamin's carried small shields and bows.

Zerah's army arrives (vv. 9-10)

Zerah was a Cushite, a name usually tied to lands south of Egypt, though scholars are unsure whether he came from there, served Egypt, or led tribes living near Gerar in the south. His army is described as enormous, a million men in the literal wording, and many readers take the very large numbers in this book as a way of saying "overwhelming" rather than an exact count.

Asa's prayer (v. 11)

Asa admits his side is the weaker one and says no one but the LORD can help the powerless against the mighty. He frames the battle as a matter of the LORD's own honor, asking that mere humans not win against God.

Rout and plunder (vv. 12-15)

The text credits the LORD with breaking the enemy, and Judah's army chased them southwest as far as Gerar. Saying the villages there were seized by terror of the LORD, they attacked and looted them and the herders' camps, then returned to Jerusalem with large flocks of sheep, goats and camels.

Key verse: 2 Chronicles 14:11

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether this chapter's link between seeking God and receiving peace or victory is a general pattern for believers today or something specific to ancient Israel's relationship with God.

Something to think about

When you have faced something far bigger than yourself, what did you lean on, and did it hold up?