Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

2 CHRONICLES 14:10KJV
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2 Chronicles 14:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 14:10 mean?

2 Chronicles 14:10 describes King Asa of Judah leading his army out to confront an enemy, arranging his forces for battle in the valley of Zephathah near the town of Mareshah. The verse sets the scene for a significant military engagement between Asa and an opposing force.

In this passage, the focus is on Asa’s decision to meet the threat head-on by organizing his troops in a specific location. The verse is part of a larger story where Asa, facing a massive Cushite army, takes strategic action. The mention of Zephathah and Mareshah gives a precise geographic setting, highlighting the seriousness and preparation involved in the coming conflict.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 14:10

  • "Battle" (מִלְחָמָה, milḥamah): This word refers to armed conflict or war, emphasizing that what is about to happen is a formal, organized battle rather than a skirmish or raid.
  • "Array" (עָרַךְ, ʿarakh): This term means to arrange or set in order, often used for lining up troops in formation. It shows that Asa’s forces were not just reacting but were deliberately organized for battle.
  • "Valley" (גַּיְא, gai): This word points to a specific type of terrain, a valley, which often played a strategic role in ancient battles. The mention of the valley of Zephathah suggests a chosen battleground that could influence the outcome.

Why 2 Chronicles 14:10 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Asa acted decisively and with preparation, not just relying on chance or reacting in fear, which sets the tone for the faith and strategy seen in the wider passage.
  • By naming the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah, the text grounds the story in real geography, reminding readers that these were historical events involving real places and people.
  • The careful arrangement of troops ("set the battle in array") highlights the seriousness of the threat and Asa’s leadership, helping readers understand the gravity of the situation before Asa’s prayer and God’s intervention in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“Mareshah” Hebrew H4762 · used in 8 verses

  • Joshua 15:44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
  • 1 Chronicles 4:21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
  • 2 Chronicles 14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

“Asa” Hebrew H609 · used in 52 verses

  • 1 Kings 15:8 And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Kings 16:10 And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Chronicles 15:10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.

“valley” Hebrew H1516 · used in 54 verses

  • Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
  • Jeremiah 2:23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

“array” Hebrew H6186 · used in 71 verses

  • Genesis 14:8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela(the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;
  • 1 Samuel 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
  • Job 32:14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.