Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

2 CHRONICLES 14:5KJV
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2 Chronicles 14:5 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 14:5 mean?

2 Chronicles 14:5 describes how King Asa removed the high places and idols from all the cities of Judah, which resulted in a time of peace for his kingdom. The verse highlights that after these actions, the land was quiet and undisturbed during his reign.

This verse is set during the reign of Asa, king of Judah, as he leads religious reforms to turn the people away from idol worship. The "high places" were local sites of worship often associated with pagan practices, and the "images" were statues or symbols used in these rituals. By removing these, Asa aimed to centralize worship of the God of Israel, and the result was a period of stability and calm in the nation.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 14:5

  • "places" (בָּמָה, bamah): This word refers to elevated sites used for worship, often outside Jerusalem, where people sometimes mixed Israelite and pagan practices. Removing them shows Asa's commitment to exclusive worship of God.
  • "images" (חַמָּן, chammān): This term points to sun-pillars or idols, likely connected to Canaanite or other non-Israelite religious customs. Destroying these images was a concrete step in purifying Judah's worship.
  • "quiet" (שָׁקַט, shaqat): This word means to be at rest or undisturbed. The verse uses it to show that Asa’s reforms led to a time of peace and security for the kingdom.

Why 2 Chronicles 14:5 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Asa’s reforms were not just limited to the capital but extended to all the cities of Judah, showing the thoroughness of his efforts.
  • The connection between removing idol worship and the resulting peace suggests that the writer saw a link between faithfulness to God and national stability.
  • In the context of the surrounding chapters, this verse sets up a contrast between Asa’s reign and those of other kings who tolerated or encouraged idol worship, highlighting the importance of religious leadership.

Where else these words appear

“images” Hebrew H2553 · used in 8 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
  • Isaiah 27:9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

“quiet” Hebrew H8252 · used in 41 verses

  • Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.
  • Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

“places” Hebrew H1116 · used in 92 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • 2 Kings 15:35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

“kingdom” Hebrew H4467 · used in 113 verses

  • Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
  • 2 Kings 14:5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
  • Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;