2 Chronicles 14:7

2Ch 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.

Ver. 7. Because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him.] It did his heart good to think how piously they had purchased their present peace; and therefore he repeateth it. See Zec 8:19. {See Trapp on "Zec 8:19"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch_14:7

Therefore said he unto Judah, Let us build these cities . . . while the land is yet before us

The duty of improving present opportunity

(a Sunday-school sermon):--Consider--

I.

The opportunity for labour with which we are blessed. The land is yet before us.

1. We have liberty to labour.

2. The facilities are great: multiplication of elementary books, circulation of Bibles, etc.

3. The encouragements are numerous. The prejudices of society are in our favour. Gods command, etc.

II. The importance of labouring while we have this opportunity.

1. What is the work to which we are called? That of teaching the young the Word of God (Deu_6:6-7; Psa_78:5; Psa_78:7; Pro_22:6).

2. The duty of improving existing opportunities. Conclusion: Address children. If you had to pass through a long and dark passage where there were many deep pits, how anxious, at the beginning, would you feel for light. Such is the Word of God given to you at your entrance into life (Psa_119:105). (J. G. Breay, B.A.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

14:7-14 Solomon had prayed that the Lord would hear his people when they were led into battle (6:34). In the battle against Zerah, God responded to such a prayer. • Ethiopian (literally “Cushite”) might refer to someone from southern Egypt (Nubia) or a Midianite territory northeast of Aqabah (see Num 12:1; Hab 3:7). However, the mention of Libya in 2 Chr 16:8, the size of the battle (comparable to the attack of Shishak against Rehoboam in 12:3), and the location of Mareshah in the west of Judah indicate that Zerah was an Egyptian; he is otherwise unknown. He might have been a Nubian general dispatched by Osorkon I, the Libyan pharaoh who ruled Egypt between the tenth and fourteenth years of Asa (900–897 BC). Another view is that Shishak established a buffer state around Gerar, supported by Nubian mercenaries that invaded Judah. The account, however, only says that Asa and his armies pursued the armies south to Gerar and took a vast amount of plunder, particularly from the herdsmen living in tents around the cities.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

While we have the full government thereof.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

while the land is yet before us--that is, while we have free and undisputed progress everywhere; no foe is near; but, as this happy time of peace may not last always and the kingdom is but small and weak, let us prepare suitable defenses in case of need. He had also an army of five hundred eighty thousand men. Judah furnished the heavily armed soldiers, and Benjamin the archers. This large number does not mean a body of professional soldiers, but all capable of bearing arms and liable to be called into service.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(7) 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 (1Ki_15:33); see 2Ch_16:6. A general system of defence, like that of Rehoboam, who fortified as many as fifteen cities, seems to be indicated.

Walls.—A wall.

Gates (doors) and bars.—1Sa_23:7, and 2Ch_8:5, supra, where “bars” is, as usual, singular, bariach. Here it is plural.

While the land is yet before us.—Is open to us, free from hostile occupation. The phrase is apparently borrowed from Gen_13:9. (Is yet, ‘odennû, masculine pronoun, instead of feminine; probably a clerical error). Omit while, and put a stop at bars. “The land is still before us, for we have sought the Lord,” appears to be the connection of thought.

So they built and prospered—i.e., built prosperously, without let or hindrance.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7. Therefore he said] R.V. For he said.

and bars, while the land is yet before us; because, etc.] R.V. and bars; the land is yet before us, because, etc.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand,.... These were armed with a large sort of shield, to protect them, and with spears, to push at an enemy when they came near them, and to close quarters with them:

and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; these had also a lesser sort of shields, to defend their bodies, and bows and arrows, to annoy an enemy at a distance:

all these were mighty men of valour; able bodied men, valiant and courageous; perhaps Asa gathered these together, on hearing that the Ethiopians were preparing to attack him, as follows.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The land is yet before us - i. e., “unoccupied by an enemy” - “the land is open to us to go where we please.” Compare Gen 13:9. The fortification of the strongholds would be an act of rebellion against Egypt, and it might be expected that the Egyptians would endeavor to put a stop to it.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Yet before us, i.e. in our power, as that phrase is oft used. See Poole "Gen 13:9".

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

We have sought him, and he hath given us rest. In three successive verses the blessings of peace and quiet, and no war and rest, are recorded (Isa_26:1; Zec_2:5)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Before us - In our power.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Asa said to Judah

Here "Judah" refers to the people of Judah. AT: "Asa said to the people of Judah" (See: Metonymy)

peace on every side

"peace all around." This means that Judah was at peace with all of the surrounding nations.

So they built

The ellipsis may be supplied from the context. AT: "So they built the cities" (See: Ellipsis)

300,000 men ... 280,000 men

"three hundred thousand men ... two hundred and eighty thousand men" (See: Numbers)

translationWords

Asa

watchtower

gate

seek

shield

spear

Benjamin

bow and arrow

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.