2 Chronicles 14 7

2 Chronicles 14:7 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 14:7 nkjv

Therefore he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, 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 has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

2 Chronicles 14:7 niv

"Let us build up these towns," he said to Judah, "and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

2 Chronicles 14:7 esv

And he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and prospered.

2 Chronicles 14:7 nlt

Asa told the people of Judah, "Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side." So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.

2 Chronicles 14 verses

2 Chronicles 14 7 Meaning

2 Chronicles 14:7 describes King Asa's wise and proactive leadership during a period of peace, attributed to Judah's seeking of the LORD. Asa urges the people to utilize this divine "rest" to strengthen their defenses by building fortified cities. The verse highlights the reciprocal relationship between national godliness, divine favor (rest and prosperity), and human responsibility (active building and planning), concluding with their successful construction efforts.

2 Chronicles 14 7 Context

This verse is situated early in the reign of King Asa of Judah. Following Rehoboam and Abijah, Asa is depicted by the Chronicler as a monarch who did what was "good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God" (2 Chr 14:2). His initial acts involved cleansing the land of idolatry, destroying foreign altars, and promoting the worship of YHWH. Critically, he also commanded Judah to "seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment" (2 Chr 14:4).

Chapter 14 begins by noting a period of "rest" (peace) for ten years due to Asa's initial righteous reforms (2 Chr 14:1, 6). Verse 7 explains Asa's leadership during this peaceful time. Instead of complacency, Asa recognizes this peace as a divine gift resulting from their fidelity. He encourages his people to proactively utilize this window of tranquility to fortify their nation defensively, demonstrating prudent stewardship of God's blessing. This builds the foundation for their readiness for future challenges, such as the massive invasion by Zerah the Cushite in 2 Chronicles 14:9ff.

Historically, the kingdom of Judah was smaller and often vulnerable following the division of Israel. Fortifying cities was a practical necessity for survival, but Asa explicitly links the opportunity for this development to God's prior action ("He has given us rest") and their spiritual commitment ("we have sought the LORD our God"). This aligns with the Chronicler's theological emphasis on the direct correlation between faithfulness to God and national prosperity or adversity.

2 Chronicles 14 7 Word analysis

• He said to Judah, 'Let us build these cities...':

  • He said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A standard Hebrew narrative verb. It highlights Asa's role as the leader, initiating and articulating a strategic vision for the nation. This isn't a passive receipt of blessings but an active, divinely informed call to action.
  • to Judah: Asa is addressing the people of the southern kingdom, emphasizing collective responsibility and participation in the national endeavor.
  • Let us build (נִבְנֶה - nivneh): A call to cooperative action. It suggests foresight and good governance by Asa, utilizing a period of peace for constructive development. This counters any notion of idleness during rest.

• '...and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars.':

  • cities (עָרִים - `arim): These were not just settlements but often fortified administrative or military centers.
  • surround (וְנָסֹב - venasov): To encompass, implying robust defensive works.
  • walls (חוֹמוֹת - chomōt), towers (מִגְדָּלוֹת - migdalot), gates (דְּלָתַיִם - dlatayim), bars (וּבְרִחִים - uverichim): These elements constitute a complete system of urban defense. Walls offer primary protection, towers provide elevated vantage points for defense, gates serve as controlled entry points, and bars secure the gates. The specific enumeration highlights a detailed and thorough approach to fortification, demonstrating practical wisdom and diligent planning, a contrast to potential laxity when unthreatened. This preparation reflects a human understanding of defense but is undertaken because God has given them peace to do so.

• 'The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God.':

  • The land is still ours (וְהָאָרֶץ לְפָנֵינוּ עוֹד - vehaha'aretz lefaneynu od): Literally, "the land before us yet." This idiom means the land is unencumbered by enemies, unoccupied, and available for their use and development. It signifies an uncontested possession and opportunity for growth. This state of unthreatened possession is directly attributed to God's favor.
  • because we have sought (כִּי דָּרַשְׁנוּ - ki darashnu): "To seek, inquire of, consult, search diligently." This term is pivotal in Chronicles. It implies active, earnest pursuit of God, often in obedience to His commandments and through His appointed channels (e.g., prophets, temple worship). It's a foundational theological concept for the Chronicler, directly linking a people's spiritual posture to their national experience. This specific wording also functions as a polemic against relying on pagan deities or mere military prowess. True national security and the opportunity to build come not from human strength alone but from their relationship with YHWH.
  • the LORD our God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - YHWH Eloheinu): This refers to YHWH, the covenant God of Israel, affirming their exclusive relationship and loyalty. It underlines that their devotion is specifically to the one true God, not the surrounding pagan deities.

• 'We have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.':

  • We have sought Him (דָּרָשְׁנוּהוּ - darashnu'hu): Repetition for emphasis. It underscores the vital spiritual condition preceding divine blessing. This re-iteration strengthens the causal link.
  • He has given us rest (נָתַן לָנוּ מְנוּחָה - natan lanu menuchah): "Rest" signifies peace, security, cessation from conflict, freedom from enemies, and stability. This is a covenant blessing promised for obedience (Dt 12:10). The divine agency ("He has given") is explicitly stated, demonstrating that their peace is a direct gift from God, not a mere stroke of luck or solely a result of their own strength.
  • on every side (מִסָּבִיב - missaviv): Implies comprehensive, unassailable peace from all directions. It speaks of a secure and undisturbed state, providing the ideal conditions for national development.

• 'So they built and prospered.':

  • So they built (וַיִּבְנוּ - vayyivnu): A direct action resulting from Asa's command and God's prior provision. It shows the human responsibility to act upon divine opportunities.
  • and prospered (וַיַּצְלִיחוּ - vayyatztlichu): Indicates success, favorable outcome, and accomplishment in their endeavor. This prosperity is the tangible outcome of seeking God, receiving His rest, and acting faithfully upon it. This further emphasizes the Chronicler's theology: obedience and seeking God lead to divine favor and material success. It stands as a positive example of the nation experiencing God's blessing due to their king's righteous leadership and their communal responsiveness.

2 Chronicles 14 7 Bonus section

• The theme of "rest" (מְנוּחָה - menuchah) is significant in the Old Testament, often denoting the secure possession of the land after overcoming enemies, a sign of covenant faithfulness and divine blessing. It links Asa's experience to the broader narrative of Israel's journey from wilderness to promised land.
• The Chronicler meticulously lists the defensive structures (walls, towers, gates, bars) to emphasize the thoroughness of Asa's efforts. This is a subtle affirmation of good strategic planning as part of righteous governance. It illustrates that spiritual devotion leads to practical effectiveness.
• Asa's statement, "The land is still ours," reflects an acute awareness of their territorial integrity. The prior absence of significant military threats allowed for domestic focus and investment in the kingdom's resilience, rather than being constantly engaged in warfare.
• This period of peace and construction serves as a contrast to subsequent challenges in Asa's reign (2 Chr 16:2ff), where his reliance on a human alliance rather than the LORD resulted in ongoing conflict and God's displeasure. This chapter stands as a high point, highlighting what is possible when a leader and nation remain wholly devoted to God.
• The emphasis on "seeking the LORD" is not merely about a formal ritual but implies a sincere heart's alignment with God's will and a lifestyle of obedience to His commands.

2 Chronicles 14 7 Commentary

2 Chronicles 14:7 provides a theological blueprint for wise and blessed governance during times of peace. King Asa exemplifies proactive leadership that grounds national strategy in spiritual fidelity. He recognized that the "rest" or peace Judah enjoyed was not a sign of divine indifference or a license for idleness, but rather a direct gift from God, given because the nation had sought Him. This spiritual cause-and-effect relationship—central to the Chronicler's message—underscores that true security and prosperity stem from right relationship with God, not merely human effort.

The instruction to "build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars" demonstrates a pragmatic wisdom. It teaches that divine blessing doesn't negate human responsibility; rather, it empowers it. God provides the opportune conditions ("rest on every side"), and humans are expected to diligently and strategically utilize those conditions. Asa did not simply pray for security but wisely invested in strengthening his kingdom's infrastructure while enjoying divine peace. This synergy of divine grace and human labor results in flourishing, as stated in "So they built and prospered." It's a powerful lesson that trust in God involves acting responsibly with the gifts He bestows, actively building up society in faith, rather than waiting passively for further miracles. The polemic is clear: rely on YHWH, and then build with the rest He provides.