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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0II CHRONICLES CHAPTER 14
II Chronicles 13 brought us civil war in Israel, pitting the two separate Nations—the House of Israel, the ten northern Tribes under the kingship of Jeroboam and the House of Judah, two tribes consisting of Judah and Benjamin, under the kingship of Abijah—against each other. Why was there civil war? Because, after Father had given the ten northern Tribes into the hand of Jeroboam, he feared his people, if they returned to Jerusalem to Honor, Serve and Worship Father there, they would not desire to return to their homes, but would instead, desire to stay in Jerusalem, thus causing Jeroboam to have a smaller kingdom. So, he made his own altars and crafted two golden calves for his people to worship. Several things to note concerning this brethren: (1) Father told Jeroboam that He would give to him all that his heart desired if he stayed true to Father and walked in His ways; (2) Though Jeroboam had more Tribes under him, and thus more people and a larger army, Father gave the victory to Abijah and the House of Judah; (3) During the routing of the House of Israel, Abijah and his army captured Beth-el and her surrounding suburbs, Jeshanah and her suburbs and also Ephron and her suburbs; and (4) Though Abijah had the victory, Jeroboam out lived Abijah by three years.
In this Chapter, we’ll be reading of the ascension of Abijah’s son Asa. This Chapter also begins the split between The Books of the Kings and The Books of the Chronicles in that, from here to the end of The Book of the Chronicles, our focus will be on the kings of the House of Judah.
With that introduction being said, let’s go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: “ Father, I come to You right now and ask that You Oh LORD Lead me and Guide me as I try and teach Your Word, don’t allow me to mis-teach or mis-lead Your Children. We, Father, also come to You as a group who desire to Learn Your Word, to thank You for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to partake of and receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, as we prepare to dine on the sustenance which sustains our inner man, we ask that You Oh LORD open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds and prepare us in order that we may receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your Understanding of Your Word, we seek Your Knowledge in Your Word, and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus’ Precious name we Pray, thank You Father, Amen.”
I Chronicles 10:1-II Chronicles 36:21
HISTORY (UP TO THE CAPTIVITY.)
(Division.)
11:1-II Chronicles 36:21 THE HOUSE
of DAVID. ESTABLISHED.
(Division.)
13:1-14:1 ABIJAH. (Introversion.)
13:21-14:1 Conclusion.
14:1-16:14 ASA (Introversion.)
14:1 Introduction.
1A1
II Chronicles 14:1 So Abijah (Father (that is worshipper) of YAH); or, my Father is YHVH) (ab-ee-yawי-hoo) slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David (loving; and, well-beloved) (Daw-veedי): and Asa (physican or cure; or, physican) (aw-sawי) his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. —> As I said in my introduction, Abijah won the wars between the two nations; however, Jeroboam outlived him by three years. Rehoboam’s son is now dead and returned Home to Father, and his son Asa will be the third man king over the Nation of the House of Judah.
In the phrase “…slept with his fathers…” Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion Bible notes to this verse the following: “This is a beautiful euphemism for death, the first occurrence is in Deuteronomy 31:16. It is used alike of good people and evil: of Ahab as well as David; of all the kings, even Jehoiakim, who had no burial.”.
…city of David…=There are 2 places named as such in Father’s Word: The first is the fortress on Mount Zion which David took from the Jebusites. David “dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David” as we can read of in I Chronicles 11:7. This was the name afterwards given to the castle and royal palace on Mount Zion, as distinguished from Jerusalem generally I Kings 3:1, 8:1. It was located on the south-west side of Jerusalem, opposite the Temple Mount, with which it was connected by a bridge over the Tyropoeon valley; the second is the city in which David was born: Bethlehem. The reference here in this verse, is to the first: Mount Zion.
…the land was quiet ten years…=We will find as we make our way through this Chapter—even beginning with the next Verse—and the reign and rule of Asa, that Asa—unlike his father Abijah, his grand-father Rehoboam and his great grand-father Solomon before him—will “do that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God,” and because of his doing so, Father will give Judah rest and peace which will last for ten years. The first adversary to come against Asa and Judah will be the Ethopians—whom Father will take care of—then will come Baasha the king of the House of Israel.
Abijah=For a detailed description of Abijah, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
David=For a detailed description of David, including his birth, history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Asa
Asa=King Asa was the son of Abijah—spelled Abijah in The Books of the Chronicles and Abijam in The Books of the Kings—the son of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the son of David. Father’s Word does not say who his mother was; however, It does say that his great grand-mother was Michaiah—she is called Michaiah, whose name means “who is like YAH,” when speaking of her as being the queen-mother; however, she is called Maachah, which means “oppression,” when speaking of her and her idolatry. He was the third king of the divided Nation of the House of Judah, and he reigned and ruled over the Nation for 41 years. In Father’s eyes, he was considered “a good king,” as “he did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.” What was it which he did that was considered “good and right?” He removed the idolatrous altars which were erected in order to worship false gods, he removed and took away the high places from all the cities in Judah—he could not do so in the three cities and their suburbs he captured from the House of Israel: Beth-el, Jeshanah and Ephron—he broke down and removed the sun images, he cut down the asherah groves, he threw the sodomites out of Judah, and he even cut down and burnt the monstrous asherah his great grand-mother had erected—Father’s Word doesn’t state whether this was one large phallic symbol or a grove of phallic symbols—and then expelled her from Judah; in either case, he cleaned up and got rid of all the idolatrous practices which had been taking place in Judah. For doing all this, Father gave him and the Nation peace and prosperity for ten years. Later in his reign and rule, the Ethiopians tried to come against the Nation, and Asa sought Father Who smote the Ethiopians and delivered the Nation out of their hand. Later still—in the 36th year of his reign—Baashah, the king of the Nation of the House of Israel came against Asa; however, this time, instead of seeking Father, sadly, Asa sought the help of Ben-hadad the king of Syria, which angered Father, wherefore Father caused Asa to not have peace and prosperity for his remaining years till he died. Although Asa did not rely on Father to defeat Baashah at the end of his reign and rule, he is still considered a good and righteous king for his actions at the beginning of his reign, and like king David—and unlike his great grand-father Solomon, his grand-father Rehoboam and his father Abijah—he never honored, served or worshipped any false gods or idols. † For the etymology of the name Asa, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Asa appears to come from the root group אסה (asa): For a meaning of the name Asa, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Physician. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names too says Physician, and specifies this with Who Will Heal. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary timidly suggests: “perhaps” Healer.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H609, - אָסָא, - 'âsâ', pronounced - aw-sawי, and means: Of uncertain derivation; Asa, the name of a king and of a Levite: - Asa. Total KJV occurrences: 58.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “physician or cure. Son of Abijah and third king of Judah. (His long reign of 41 years was peaceful in its earlier portion, and he undertook the reformation of all abuses, especially of idolatry. He burnt the symbol of his grandmother Maachah’s religion and deposed her from the dignity of “king’s mother,”) and renewed the great altar which the idolatrous priests apparently had desecrated II Chronicles 15:8. Besides this he fortified cities on his frontiers, and raised an army, amounting, according to II Chronicles 14:8 to 580,000 men, a number probably exaggerated by an error of the copyist—this author and writer of this Study emphatically disagrees with this statement of Dr Smith, as many thousands of men fled the Nation of the House of Israel because of that Nation’s idolatrous practices and came and joined onto the House of Judah because of Asa’ righteousness. During Asa’s reign, Zerah, at the head of an enormous host, II Chronicles 14:9 attacked Mareshah. There he was utterly defeated, and driven back with immense loss to Gerar. The peace which followed this victory was broken by the attempt of Baasha of Israel to fortify Ramah. To stop this Asa purchased the help of Benhadad I. king of Damascus, by a large payment of treasure, forced Baasha to abandon his purpose, and destroyed the works which he had begun at Ramah. In his old age Asa suffered from gout, He died, greatly loved and honored, in the 41st year of his reign.”.
14:2 Introduction.
1A2
II Chronicles 14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: —> Finally, after close to 60 years and three generations of idol worshippers, the House of Judah is at long last, going to have a man seeking to please Father. First Solomon, then his son Rehoboam, and grandson Abijah, all chased after other false gods and idols, and brought in heathenistic rituals; but, now comes Asa seeking after Father’s own heart. Asa is more like his great, great grand-father David, he wants to be pleasing to Father. We’ll discover as we make our way through The Books of the Chronicles that quite often, we’ll see where a father and grand-father are very wicked, and then, along comes a son who is just the opposite. Sometimes, it is just the opposite, and the father is a man of Father YHVH, and the son turns out to be wicked.
14:3-8 Events. Personal, well doing.
14:3-8 Events. Personal. (Introversions.)
14:3 Removal of Idolatry.
1A3
II Chronicles 14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: —> Let’s read this from I Kings 15:12 and read what else he did: I Kings 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. —> We need an Asa here in our country today, as our government keeps assisting and supporting the sodomites here in our Country. Let’s review what I commented concerning the sodomites from I Kings 14:24: Sodomites=The word sodomite in the Strong’s Concordance, is Hebrew word number: H6945 - קדשׁ, - qâdêsh, pronounced - kaw-dasheי, and means: From H6942; a (quasi) sacred person, that is, (technically) a (male) devotee (by prostitution) to licentious idolatry: - sodomite, unclean.. So in other words, a sodomite was a male—and women too—who was a prostitute and sold themselves—to both other men and with women too—to be used sexually in a worship service, during the worship in the groves as they were worshipping the asherah. Today, all over the world, the sodomites are coming out of their closets in droves, and sadly, the whole world is celebrating them, as if their sexual perversion and deviancy is a good thing. Father calls all sodomy “an abomination” to Him, and if you think that you can call yourself a Christian and remain in that filthy practice, or allow and accept that nasty practice in your kurch; then, you are no better than Jeroboam, Rehoboam or Abijah. Unbelievably, it has even been said by one of the “major” denominations, that “God is not the authority on homosexuality,” I’ll tell ya brethren, right up front, that is not a denomination I’d want to be associated with! Father showed us in His Word what He thinks of homosexuality and sodomites when He cleansed the two nations—Sodom and Gomorrah—of sodomy in Genesis 18 and 19. He cleansed them with fire and brimstone to the point of turning the entire land to salt. Now, this same filth which Father tried to do away with, Jeroboam, Rehoboam and Abijah had all allowed back into their lands. The word for “sodomites” as used here, is the Hebrew word for “prostitutes,” both male and female, male with male and female with female, and the act is just as filthy today as it was back then. So, what we see here, is that Asa, like me, is fed up with the acceptance of this filthy practice; only, he is in position to do something about it, and he does. He kicks all the immoral, lewd, and obscene sodomites out of Judah, he took away the altars of all the false gods, removed all the high places which were in Judah and he broke down their images, and then cut down the asherah groves where they practiced their orgies. Quite a feat, YAY Asa! And, he’s still not yet finished. I Kings 15:13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. —> Maachah was not Asa’s mother, she was his geat grand-mother and she had made a monstrous asherah and was participating in the orgies which they were practicing in the groves. Can you imagine, knowing your very own great grand-mother was participating in such perverseness?
14:4 Exhortation to Judah. Faith.
14:4 Exhortation to Judah. Works.
1A4
II Chronicles 14:4 And commanded Judah (celebrated; and, praised, celebrated) (yeh-hoo-dawי) to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. —> Here brethren, is how we can be pleasing to Father: by Loving Him; seeking Him with all our hearts; by Studying His Word in depth in order to gain His Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom; and, by being hearers and doers of His Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances and Statutes.
Judah=For a detailed description of Judah, including the Tribes history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
14:5 Removal of idolatry.
1A5
II Chronicles 14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. —> Asa continued by removing all the idolatrous worship practices and images in Jerusalem all the surrounding suburbs. He did not remove them from the ten northern Tribes, for there they belonged to the House of Israel, not the House of Judah. Had he tried to remove them from there, there would have been further civil war between the two Nations.
Images=Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that these “images” were “sun images,” where the people went to worship the sun, Father’s Creation. You would also find these “sun images” wherever the altars to baal were set-up, either right next to or near to the altar. In either case, they were worshipping Father’s Creation, not Him as our Creator. Father tells us what He thinks of this in Ezekiel 8:10-18, where He tells us that it is an abomination to Him.
14:6 Defense. Cities.
1A6
II Chronicles 14:6 And 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. —> …built fenced cities…=Asa didn’t actually have to built these defensed cities, as they had already been built and fortified—we read of Rehoboam doing so back in II Chronicles 11:5-6. Remember also, his grand-father Rehoboam in order to have his son Abijah, Asa’s father sit on the throne, he bought off his three older sons by giving them outlying suburbs, wives and such. So, what Asa did, was send some of his men to these outlying areas to ensure they were being maintained properly. They ensured the cities were not run down, they were well supplied with stored food items and ammunition, i.e, sheilds, spears and swords.
Rest=The word “rest” is used twice in this verse, and in both instances, it is two different Hebrew words. In the first instance, in the Strong’s Concordance, it is Hebrew word number: H8252, - שָׁקַט, - shâqaṭ, pronounced - shaw-katי, and means: A primitive root. To repose (usually figuratively): - appease, idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet (-ness), (be at, be in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still. Total KJV occurrences: 41.. So, in other words, to have peace and quietness in the land; in the second instance, we find that it is Strong’s Concordance, Hebrew word number: H5117, - נוּחַ, - nûach, pronounced - nooי-akh, and means: A primitive root; to rest, that is, settle down,; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, intransitively, transitively and causatively (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.): - cease, be confederate, lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give, have, make to) rest, set down. Compare H3241. Total KJV occurrences: 144.. So, in the second instance, we see that Father gave Asa comfort and peace, in other words, everything in the kingdom was running smoothly, and he had no adversary come against him.
14:7 Exhortation to Judah. Works.
14:7 Exhortation to Judah. Faith.
1A7
II Chronicles 14:7 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 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. —> Asa knew and understood exactly from Whom the rest he, his people and the land was enjoying, came from; and, he knew and understood exactly Why Father had bestowed that rest upon him, the people and the land. This is the message of The Books of the Chronicles, do things Father’s way and receive His Blessings, go contrary to Him, and not so much.
…while the land is yet before us…=Our KJV 1611 translators didn’t quite get this correct in their translation, what they were trying to say, is that, as the House of Judah had “rest,” the people were free to move about all the land, not having to worry whether any enemy would molest them as they were travelling about.
14:8 Defense. Armies.
1A8
II Chronicles 14:8 And 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. —> Asa is now able to muster an army of 580,000 soldiers, this is an increase of 180,000 war-fighters over what his father Abijah could muster. Note the steady increase in war-fighters in the House of Judah, while the House of Israel is doing a steady decrease. How is this possible since the House of Israel comprises ten Tribes and is larger than the House of Judah? Because, because of Jeroboam’s wickedness in setting up the two golden calves and false altars, many, many men are fleeing the House of Israel and coming to join onto the House of Judah.
Targets=These targets were the large shields, the kind where, when an enemy would loose a salvo of arrows, the war-fighters would be able to raise these shields as protection from the incoming arrows—almost like a roof over their heads—protecting several men as they did so.
…Benjamin…bows…=The Benjamites were always known for their skill with using the bow.
14:9-16:10 Events. Public. (Extended Alternations.)
14:9-15 Invasion by Zerah and the Ethiopians.
1A9
II Chronicles 14:9 And there came out against them Zerah (a rising of light, rising; and, rising [of the sun]) (zehי-rakh) the Ethiopian (patronymic from H3568, a cushite, or descendant of Cush; and, black) (koo-sheeי) with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah (summit; and, crest of a hill) (mar-ay-shawי). —> Peace in Judah is over, and it is once again by the Ethopians. The last time—just a few short Chapters ago—was when Shishak came against Asa’s grand-father Reheboam. In that case, it was Father Who brought Shishak because of Reheboam’s forsaking Father. Father allowed Shishak to have his way with the House of Judah, until Rehoboam and the House of Judah humbled themselves and sought Father. Father relented and gave Rehoboam “some” relief, in other words, He allowed Shishak to take away much spoil out of Judah; however, He did not allow Shishak to go any further. Things will turn out much differently this time, and I don’t mean that in a negative way, as Father this time will assist Asa against Judah’s emeny.
…a thousand thousand…=Brethren, that is 1,000,000 war-fighters coming against Asa and the House of Judah. This is the largest enemy force we read of in Father’s coming against His People, and it is the only instance “in all the annals of Judah, of a victorious encounter in the field, with a first-class heathen power in full force.” We read a moment ago, the the House of Judah can muster 580,000 war-fighters, that’s 420,000 shy of what Shishak is bringing. But, when Father is on your side, it doesn’t matter how large the enemy’s army is, it could be a million against you, and you alone, and Father will give you the victory; and that is what He is about to do here, give Judah the victory over this million man army.
Zerah=King of the Ethopians during the reign of Asa, the third man-king of the House of Judah. Zerah brought a million war-fighters including 300 chariots against Asa and the House of Judah, who was only mustering 580,000 war-fighters at the time. When Asa saw how large this army was, he did righteously and sought Father, seeking His assistance, of course, when Asa became king of the House of Judah, he did “that which was good and right in the eyes of Father;” therefore, Father came to his defense and brought about a serious whipping against Zerah and his million man army, with the House of Judah this time recovering much spoil from the Ethopians. † For the etymology of the name Zerah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Zerah comes from the verb זרח (zarah), meaning to arise or shine: For a meaning of the name Zerah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Dawning. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Rising Of Light.. † Now from the Strong’s concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2226, - זֶרַח, - zerach, pronounced - zehי-rakh, and means: The same as H2225; Zerach, the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince: - Zarah, Zerah. Total KJV occurrences: 21.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Rising [of the sun]. The Ethiopian or Cushite, an invader of Judah, defeated by Asa. Zerah is probably the Hebrew name of Usarken I., second king of the Egyptian twenty-second dynasty; or perhaps more probably Usarken II his second successor. In the fourteenth year of Asa, Zerah the Ethiopian, with a mighty army of or million, invaded his kingdom, and advanced unopposed in the field as far as the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. The Egyptian monuments enable us to picture the general disposition of Zerah’s army. The chariots formed the first corps in a single or double line; behind them, massed in phalanxes, were heavy-armed troops; probably on the flanks stood archers and horsemen in lighter formations. After a prayer by Asa, his army attacked the Egyptians and defeated them. The chariots, broken by the charge and with horses made unmanageable by flights of arrows must have been forced back upon the cumbrous host behind. So complete was the overthrow that the Hebrews could capture and spoil the cities around Gerah which must have been in alliance with Zerah. The defeat of the Egyptian army is without parallel in the history of the Jews. On no other occasion did an Israelite army meet an army of one of the great powers and defeat it.”.
Ethopian=For a detailed description of the Ethiopian, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Mareshah=For a detailed description of Mareshah, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A10
II Chronicles 14:10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah (watch tower; and, watch-tower) (tsef-awי-thaw) at Mareshah —> This valley of Zephathah was between Hebron and Ashdod; Hebron being to its south west and Ashdod being to the north east.
Valley of Zephathah=This valley—which lie between Ashdod and Hebron; Ashdod being to its north east and Hebron to its south west—is mentioned only one time in all of Father’s Word—II Chronicles 14:10—as king Asa and the House of Judah were about to war against Zerah and the Ethiopians. Asa was outnumbered almost 2 to 1—1,000,000 to 580,000; the largest enemy force we read of in all Father’s Word coming against His People, and it is the only instance “in all the annals of Judah, of a victorious encounter in the field with a first-class heathen power in full force”—but Asa sought Father Who gave him and the House of Judah a great victory over this enemy. † For the etymology of the name Zephathah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Zephathah appears to derive off the verb צפה (sapa), meaning to cover: If our name indeed comes from either of our verbs צפה (sapa), it appears to be an older spelling (צפת, spt instead of צפה, sph) in turn made feminine with a final ה (he). Of the sources we routinely consult, only Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) dares to propose a translation of our name, which is Watch-tower. But this seems to be a rather inconsiderate name for a valley, and perhaps this name isn’t taken from the meaning of to lay out physically. That would give our name the meaning of Covered or Carpeted. With what exactly this valley would be covered remains a mystery, but it does seem to hint at a reason why Zerah and his army chose to be there. Neither New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List nor Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary interprets our name. BDB ostensibly lists it alphabetically under צפת (spt), and not below either of the proposed verbs צפה (sph).”. † Now from the Strong’s concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6859, - צְפָתָה, - tsephâthâh, pronounced - tsef-awי-thaw, and means: The same as H6857; watch tower, Tsephathah, a place in Palestine: - Zephathah. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “watch- tower. The valley of, the spot in which Asa joined battle with Zerah the Ethiopian II Chronicles 14:10 only.”.
1A11
II Chronicles 14:11 And 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.” —> Asa is doing the correct thing here—even to this day in the year 2021, we have no idea if Asa knew just how many men he was up against, or how out numbered he was—as he is calling upon Father for His assistance against this enemy force coming against him and Judah.
The LORD=Asa invokes Father’s sacred name four times in this verse. This Title of Father as used here in this verse, is Father in His Role of יְהֹוָה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH, YAHVEH, or YEHOVAH—the sacred and personal name of Father. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YEHOVAH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare II Chronicles 18:31). YEHOVAH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”. We can say “My God,” but not “My YEHOVAH,” for YEHOVAH is “MY God.”.
God=As used in this verse, this is אלהים, ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices,: ELOHIM—the genus God, in other words, Father in His role of Creator of all things. From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4: “ELOHIM occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on II Chronicles 18:31, where it stands in contrast with YEHOVAH as indicating covenant relationship). ELOHIM is God the Son, the living “WORD” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.” In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.”. Dr. Bullinger further notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that “(with Art.) = the [true] God.”.
Rest=The word “rest” as used in this verse is different from both uses in verse 14:6 above. Here, we find that in the Strong’s Concordance, it is Hebrew word number: H8172, - שָׁעַן, - shâ‛an, pronounced - shaw-anי, and means: A primitive root; to support one’s self: - lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay. Total KJV occurrences: 22.. So, as Asa says here, he is leaning on and relying on Father for His assistance here; but, not only that, but for all the House of Judah’ needs. This is also what Father wants from all His Children, for us to seek Him and put our trust and confidence in Him.
…let not man prevail against Thee=Mortal man, whom Father created, cannot and will never prevail against Father. For that matter, even in our spiritual body, neither we nor satan can prevail against Him.
1A12
II Chronicles 14:12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. —> …the LORD smote the Ethiopians=The writers of this verse got it correct brethren, as it was Father Who smote the Ethiopians. Father did so, because Asa put his Faith and Trust in Him and called on Father to fulfill His Promise of being with those who seek Him.
1A13
II Chronicles 14:13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar (a rolling country; and, a lodging place) (gher-awrי): 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. —> …they could not recover themselves=So thoroughly did Father through Asa and the House of Judah route Zerah and the Ethiopians, that they could no longer gather themselves to even make a last stand.
Destroyed=Let’s check this word “destroyed” out in our Strong’s Concordance brethren, when we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H7665, - שָׁבַר, - shâbar, pronounced - shaw-barי, and means: A primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively): - break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken ([-hearted]), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, X quite, tear, view [by mistake for H7663]. Total KJV occurrences: 148.. Father put a crushing on these heathen who came against His Children.
His host=This “host,” is Father’s Army; and in this case, Asa and the House of Judah became a part of Father’s Army. Why and or how? Because they were fighting against heathens who do not believe in Father, therefore Zerah and the Ethiopians were Father’s enemies and Asa and the House of Judah were fighting Father’s battle. This is the same as happened at the end of the First Earth Age, when Father’s Elect stood with Him and fought against satan and those who followed him in his rebellion against Father; and it is what we are seeing coming to pass today, there is a Spiritual war taking place all around the globe, are you a part of Father’s Army wearing the Gospel Armor of Ephesians 6:10-18 and fighting the good fight brethren?
Gerar=Gerar was a town in the Philistine plain South of Gaza—Genesis 10:19—where both Abraham and Isaac “sojourned for a time,” and where they came into contact with Abimelech, king of Gerar Genesis 20 and 26. Gerar was also where King Asa and the House of Judah chased and defeated Zerah and the Ethiopians after they had attacked the House of Judah with a million man army; this was the largest enemy force we read of in Father’s coming against His People, and it is the only instance “in all the annals of Judah, of a victorious encounter in the field, with a first-class heathen power in full force.”. † For the etymology of the name Gerar, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Gerar is applied only once in the Bible, to a city in Canaan (Genesis 10:19). Israel’s ancestors Abraham and Isaac sojourn there. When Abraham dwells there, Abimelech is king of Gerar, and when Abraham presents his beautiful wife Sarah as his sister (which was not entirely a lie because they have the same father — Genesis 20:12), king Abimelech has her picked up and delivered to him. Since God has the plan to make Sarah the mother of Abraham’s son of promise (Genesis 17:16), Abimelech gets straightened out in a dream and returns Sarah to her husband (Genesis 20:1-18). When a famine strikes Canaan, Abraham’s son Isaac flees to Abimelech, king of Gerar (Genesis 26:1). When the men of Gerar see Isaac’s wife Rebekah they like to know more about her, because she too is very beautiful. Isaac, true to form, explains that she is his sister. And that is a lie because Rebekah is a daughter of Isaac’s cousin Bethuel, and a granddaughter of his uncle Nahor. Isaac and Rebekah get found out when Abimelech looks out his window and sees Isaac and Rebekah having a good time (Genesis 26:8). The verb used to describe how good that time is, צחק (sahaq), meaning to laugh, play, sport or mock. This verb is also the source of the name Isaac. The origin of the name Gerar can no longer be established, but there are a few words in the Hebrew Bible that look quite alike. The verb גרר (garar), meaning to drag or drag away, for instance: To a Hebrew audience, the name Gerar would literally mean Dragging. For a meaning of the name Gerar, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Sojourning, or Lodging Place. New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List has Region, for no explicable reason.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1642, - גְּרָר, - gerâr, pronounced - gher-awrי, and means: Probably from H1641; a rolling country; Gerar, a Philistine city: - Gerar. Total KJV occurrences: 10.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “A lodging place. A very ancient city south of Gaza. It occurs chiefly in Genesis, Genesis 10:19; 20:1; 26:17 also incidentally in II Chronicles 14:13,14. It must have trenched on the “south” or “south country” of later Israel. From a comparison of Genesis 21:32 with Genesis 26:23,26. Beersheba would seem to be just on the verge of this territory, and perhaps to be its limit towards the northeast.”.
1A14
II Chronicles 14:14 And 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. —> Though the Philistines aren’t mentioned here, Asa and the House of Judah chased Zerah and the Ethiopians all the way down into Philistine country. For the Ethiopians to have thought that they could flee into Philistine country, that means they thought, or had assurance that the Philistines would have assisted them in their fight against the Israelites. If this in indeed the case, the Philistines paid a heavy price for being foolish enough to join onto the Ethiopians, as many of their cities got sacked and Asa and the boys walked away with much booty and spoil.
Fear of the LORD=Let’s check out this word “fear” here brethren, when we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6343, - פַּחַד, - pachad, pronounced - pakhי-ad, and means: From H6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly the object feared, by implication the feeling): - dread (-ful), fear, (thing) great [fear, -ly feared], terror. Total KJV occurrences: 48.. Here, the word fear means just that, a great dreadful fear of Father. Many times in Father’s Word, when we see the word fear, it can be translated as reverence or reverencing Father.
1A15
II Chronicles 14:15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem (founded peaceful; or, the habitation of peace) (Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-im). —> …tents of cattle…=The Philistines weren’t “just camping out” brethren, no, these tents were used because these were nomatic peoples, people who wander about following pasture-field to pasture-field in order to feed their flocks and herds.
What we see in this brethren, is that, Asa and the House of Judah reclaimed much of the booty that Shishak and the Ethiopians had carried away when Father sent them against Rehoboam for his rejecting Father.
Jerusalem=For a detailed description of Jerusalem, including the Nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
June 2021.
This Bible Study was written by Scott Reis and is provided in order to be used as a private Bible Study Tool. Therefore, it may be copied in whole or in part and shared for private Bible Study; however, it may not be reproduced and published as an original work.
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