Verse 13
But Jeroboam caused an ambushment - While Abijah was thus employed in reproving them, Jeroboam divided his army privately, and sent a part to take Abijah in the rear; and this must have proved fatal to the Jews, had not the Lord interposed.
Verse 17
Slain - five hundred thousand chosen men - Query, fifty thousand? This was a great slaughter: see the note on [2Chr 13:3], where all these numbers are supposed to be overcharged.
Verse 18
Judah prevailed, because - "They depended on the Word of the God of their fathers." - T.
Verse 19
Beth-el - "Beth-lehem." - Targum.
Jeshanah - We know not where these towns lay.
Verse 20
The Lord struck him, and he died - Who died? Abijah or Jeroboam? Some think it was Jeroboam; some, that it was Abijah. Both rabbins and Christians are divided on this point; nor is it yet settled. The prevailing opinion is that Jeroboam is meant, who was struck then with that disease of which he died about two years after; for he did not die till two years after Abijah: see [1Kgs 14:20]; [1Kgs 15:9]. It seems as if Jeroboam was meant, not Abijah.
Verse 21
Married fourteen wives - Probably he made alliances with the neighboring powers, by taking their daughters to him for wives.
Verse 22
Written in the story - במדרש bemidrash, "in the commentary;" this, as far as I recollect, is the first place where a midrash or commentary is mentioned. The margin is right.
His ways, and his sayings - The commentary of the prophet Iddo is lost. What his sayings were we cannot tell; but from the specimen in this chapter, he appears to have been a very able speaker, and one who knew well how to make the best use of his argument.
Introduction
Asa succeeds his father Abijah, reigns piously, and has peace for ten years, [2Chr 14:1]. He makes a great reformation in Judah, and builds cities of defense, [2Chr 14:2-7]. His military strength, [2Chr 14:8]. He is attacked by Zerah the Ethiopian, with an immense army; Asa cries to the Lord, attacks the Ethiopians, and gives them a total overthrow, [2Chr 14:9-12]. He takes several of their cities, their cattle, etc., and returns to Jerusalem, laden with spoils, [2Chr 14:13-15].
Verse 1
The land was quiet ten years - Calmet thinks these years should be counted from the fifth to the fifteenth of Asa's reign.
Verse 2
Did that which was good - He attended to what the law required relative to the worship of God. He was no idolater, though, morally speaking, he was not exempt from faults, [1Kgs 15:14]. He suppressed idolatry universally, and encouraged the people to worship the true God: see [2Chr 14:3-5].
Verse 6
Fenced cities - To preserve his territories from invasion, and strengthen the frontiers of his kingdom, see [2Chr 14:7].
Verse 8
Targets and spears - Probably targets with the dagger in the center, and javelins for distant fight.
Bare shields and drew bows - They were not only archers, but had shield and sword for close fight.
Verse 9
Zerah the Ethiopian - Probably of that Ethiopia which lay on the south of Egypt, near to Libya, and therefore the Libyans are joined with them, [2Chr 16:8].
A thousand thousand - If this people had come from any great distance, they could not have had forage for such an immense army.
Verse 11
Whether with many - The same sentiment as that uttered by Jonathan, [1Sam 14:6], when he attacked the garrison of the Philistines.
O Lord our God - we rest on thee - "Help us, O Lord our God; because we depend on thy Word, and in the name of thy Word we come against this great host." - Targum.
Verse 14
There was - much spoil in them - These cities being on the rear of this vast army, they had laid up much forage in them; and to get this the Jews overthrew the whole.
Verse 15
Tents of cattle - Those which had carried the baggage of the great army, and which they had left in such places as abounded with pasture. Perhaps sheepfolds, enclosures for camels, mules, etc., may also be intended. The discomfiture was great, because God fought for the people; and the spoil was immense, because the multitude was prodigious, indeed almost incredible, a million of men in one place is almost too much for the mind to conceive, but there may be some mistake in the numerals: it is evident from the whole account that the number was vast and the spoil great.
Introduction
Azariah's prophecy concerning Israel, and his exhortation to Asa, [2Chr 15:1-7]. Asa completes the reformation which he had begun, his kingdom is greatly strengthened, and all to people make a solemn covenant with the Lord, [2Chr 15:8-15]. His treatment of his mother Maachah, [2Chr 15:16]. He brings into the house of God the things that has father had dedicated, [2Chr 15:17], [2Chr 15:18]. And he has no war till the thirty-fifth year of his reign, [2Chr 15:19].
Verse 1
Azariah the son of Oded - We know nothing of this prophet but what is related of him here.
Verse 2
The Lord is with you, while ye be with him - This is the settled and eternal purpose of God; to them who seek him he will ever be found propitious, and them alone will he abandon who forsake him. In this verse the unconditional perseverance of the saints has no place: a doctrine which was first the ruin of the human race, Ye shall not die; and ever since the fall, has been the plague and disgrace of the Church of Christ. The Targum is curious: "Hearken to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Word of the Lord shall be your helper, while ye walk in his ways. If ye seek doctrine from his presence he will be found of you in times of trouble; but if you cast away his fear, he will abandon you."
Verse 3
Now for a long season Israel - "Israel hath followed Jeroboam, and they have not worshipped the true God. They have burnt incense to their golden calves; their priestlings [כומריא cumeraiya, their black, sooty sacrificers] have burnt perfumes with a strange worship, and have not exercised themselves in the law." - Targum. These priests could not teach, because they had not learnt; and as they had abandoned the law of the Lord, consequently they had no proper matter for instruction.