Albert Barnes

Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities.

“Rehoboam’s wisdom was shown: (1) In dispersing his other sons instead of allowing them to remain together in Jerusalem, where they might have joined in a plot against Abijah, as Adonijah and his brothers had done against Solomon 1Ki 1:5-10; (2) In giving his sons…”

with 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and countless troops who came with him out of Egypt—Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.

“twelve hundred chariots - This number is not unusnal (compare Exo 14:7; 1Ki 10:26). Benhadad brought 1,200 chariots into the field against Shalmaneser II; and Ahabhad at the same time a force of 2,000 chariots (compare the 1Ki 20:1 note).”

When the LORD saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but will soon…

“Compare the repentance of Ahab (marginal reference) and that of the Ninevites Jon 3:5-10 which produced similar revocations of divine decrees that had been pronounced by the mouth of a prophet. Some deliverance - Rather, “deliverance for a short space” (see the margin).”

In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam’s reign, Abijah became king of Judah,

“The history of Abijah’s reign is here related far more fully than in Kings (marginal reference), especially as regards his war with Jeroboam.”

Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men, while Jeroboam drew up in formation against him with 800,000 chosen and mighty men of valor.

“It has been proposed to change the numbers, here and in 2Ch 13:17, into 40,000, 80,000, and 50,000 respectively - partly because these smaller numbers are found in many early editions of the Vulgate, but mainly because the larger ones are thought to be incredible.”

But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites?

“Seven rams - “A bullock and two rams” was the offering which God had required at the original consecration of the sons of Aaron Exo 29:1; Lev 8:2.”

Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.

“Slain - The word means strictly “pierced,” and will include both the killed and the wounded. It is translated “wounded” in Lam 2:12.”

Abijah pursued Jeroboam and captured some cities from him: Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their villages.

“Jeshanah is probably identical with the “Isanas” of Josephus, where a battle took place in the war between Antigonus and Herod; but its situation cannot be fixed. For Ephrain, see Jos 18:23 note.”

Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.

“Asa his son reigned - If Rehoboam was (1Ki 12:8 note) not more than 21 years old at his accession, Asa, when he mounted the throne, must have been a mere boy, not more than 10 or 11 years of age.”

So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars.

“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.”

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

“Zerah the Ethiopian is probably Usarken (Osorkon) II, the third king of Egypt after Shishak, according to the Egyptian monuments.”

So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

“The “valley of Zephathah” - not elsewhere mentioned - is probably the broad Wady which opens out from Mareshah (marginal reference) in a northwesterly direction, leading into the great Philistine plain.”

So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

“The defeat of Zerah is one of the most remarkable events in the history of the Jews. On no other occasion did they meet in the field and overcome the forces of either of the two great monarchies between which they were placed.”

Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.

“Oded is by some identified with Iddo, the prophet and historian of the two preceding reigns. In the Hebrew the two names differ very slightly.”

For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law.

““Israel” here is used generally for the whole people of God; and the reference is especially to the many apostasies in the days of the Judges, which were followed by repentance and deliverance.”

And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, along with those from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for great numbers had come over to…

“Strangers ... - i. e. “Israelites of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.” The separation of the two kingdoms had made their Israelite brethren “strangers,” or “foreigners,” to Judah.”

At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep from all the plunder they had brought back.

“The prevalence of the number “seven” in the religious system of the Jews has been noticed often. Seven bullocks and seven rams were a common offering Num 29:32; 1Ch 15:26; 2Ch 29:21; Job 42:8; Eze 14:23.”

The high places were not removed from Israel, but Asa’s heart was fully devoted all his days.

“Comparing this verse with marginal references, it would seem that in 2Ch 14:3, 2Ch 14:5 the intention and endeavors of the monarch are in the writer’s mind, while here he is speaking of the practice of the people.”

And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

“The five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa - This cannot be reconciled with the chronqlogy of Kings 1Ki 16:8: and the suggestion in the marg.”

And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

“Abel-maim - or, “Abel-beth-maachah” 1Ki 15:20. It was one of the towns most exposed to attack when an invader entered Israel from the north, and was taken from Pekah by Tiglath-pileser 2Ki 15:29. Store cities - See 1Ki 9:19 note.”

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and told him, “Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your…

“The rebuke of Hanani and his imprisonment by Asa, omitted by the writer of Kings, are among the most important of the additions to Asa’s history for which we are indebted to the author of Chronicles.”

Asa’s son Jehoshaphat reigned in his place, and he strengthened himself against Israel.

“Jehoshaphat ascended the throne in the fourth year of Ahab 1Ki 22:41, probably after that monarch had contracted his alliance with the royal family of Sidon, and before he was engaged in war with Syria.”

Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek out the Baals,

“The first ways of his father David - The Septuagint and several Hebrew manuscripts omit “David,” which has probably crept in from the margin, for David’s “first ways” are nowhere else contrasted with his later ways.”

but he sought the God of his father and walked by His commandments rather than the practices of Israel.

“The doings of Israel - i. e. the especially idolatrous doings of the time - the introduction and establishment of the worship of Baal and the groves.”

And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; furthermore, he removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

“His heart was lifted up - This expression generally occurs in a bad sense Deu 8:14; 2Ch 26:16; Psa 131:1; Pro 18:12; but here it must be taken differently. The margin “was encouraged” expresses fairly the true meaning.”