20250124

a million mighty men

2 Chronicles 14:1-15

2 Chronicles 14:1 Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for ten years.
2 Chronicles 14:2 Asa did what was good and right in the sight of Yahveh his God.
2 Chronicles 14:3 He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.
2 Chronicles 14:4 He told the people of Judah to seek Yahveh God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.
2 Chronicles 14:5 He also removed the high places and the shrines from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him.
2 Chronicles 14:6 Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because Yahveh gave him rest.
2 Chronicles 14:7 So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought Yahveh our God. We sought him and he gave us rest on every side.” So, they built and succeeded.
2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty warriors.
2 Chronicles 14:9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with one million mighty men and three hundred chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.
2 Chronicles 14:10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in Zephathah Valley at Mareshah.
2 Chronicles 14:11 Then Asa cried out to Yahveh his God: “Lord, there is no one besides you to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on you, and in your name, we have come against this large army. Lord, you are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder you.”
2 Chronicles 14:12 So Yahveh routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled.
2 Chronicles 14:13 Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahveh and his army. So, the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.
2 Chronicles 14:14 Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of Yahveh was on them. They also plundered all the cities since there was a great deal of plunder in them.
2 Chronicles 14:15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

a million mighty men

Asa used his period of rest from war to root out idolatry from Judah, and to build fortified cities. He was wise enough to know that the time of rest was a blessing, but that rest is not a given. Danger lurks from enemies within and without. So, the freedom and energy during peaceful times should be spent preparing for and preventing times of trouble.

When war came, they were ready, but they were still outnumbered against the Ethiopians. Fortunately, since they had rid themselves of the other gods, Yahveh crushed a million mighty warriors for them and rescued them.

Yahveh, give us wisdom to rid ourselves of wrong allegiances, and to build up our defenses, so that in the time of battle, we can be confident of your rescue.