of the place and its situation, so near the southwestern angle of the country, and almost midway between

Hebron and Ashdod, must have marked it as one of the most important strategical points in the Jewish line

of defensive works against Philistia, or rather, against Egypt.251 About two miles north of Mareshah a

beautiful valley debauches from between the hills.252

This is the valley of Zephathah, where the relieving army of Asa, coming from the northeast, now took up its

position. Here a decisive battle took place, which ended in the complete rout of the Egyptians. It has been

well noted,253 that this is the only occasion on which the armies of Judah ventured to meet, and with

success, either Egypt or Babylon in the open field (not behind fortifications).

On the only other occasion when a battle in the open was fought (2 Chronicles 25:20-24), it ended in the

signal defeat of Judah. But this is only one of the circumstances which made the victory of Asa so

remarkable. Although the battle -field (a valley) must have been unfavorable for handling so unwieldy a mass

of soldiers and for deploying their war-chariots, yet the host of Egypt was nearly double that of Asa, and

must have included well-disciplined and long-trained battalions. But, on the other hand, never before had a

battle been fought in the same manner; never had there been more distinct negation of things seen and

affirmation of t hings unseen - which constitutes the essence of faith - nor yet more trustful application of it

than in Asa's prayer before the battle, "Is it not with Thee to help between the much (the mighty) relatively

to no strength (in regard to the weak)?  254

Help us, Jehovah our God, for upon Thee do we put our trust; and in Thy name have we come (do we come)

upon this multitude. O Jehovah, Thou art our God (the God of power, Elohim): let not man retain strength by

the side of Thee (have power before Thee)!" Such an appeal could not be in vain. In the significant

language of Holy Scripture, it was "Jehovah" Who "smote" the Ethiopians, and "Asa and the people that

were with him" only "pursued them."  255 Far away to Gerar, three hours southeast from the border city, Gaza,

continued the chase amidst unnumbered slain, and still the destroying sword of Jehovah was before His

host (2 Chronicles 14:13), and His fear fell upon all the cities round about. To wrest the hostile cities of the

Philistines and to carry away much spoil was only one sequence.

Henceforth Egypt ceased to b e a source of terror or of danger, and full 330 years passed before its army was

again arrayed against Judah.256 The occasion was too favorable not to have been improved.

Asa had entered on a course of right-doing, and the LORD, upon Whom he and his people had called, had

proved a faithful and prayer-hearing God. If the religious reformation so happily begun, and the religious

revival which had appeared, only issued in a thorough return to the LORD, the evil which had been in the far

and near past and which threatened in the future, might yet be averted. The morrow of the great God-given

victory seemed the most suitable time for urging this upon Judah. Accordingly, Azariah, the son of Oded,257

was Divinely commissioned to meet the returning victorious army of Asa, and to urge such considerations

upon the people.

"The Spirit of Elohim" was upon him, and what he spake bore reference not only to the past and the present,

but also to the future. Hence his message is rightly described as both "words" and "a prophecy" (2

Chronicles 15:8). Carefully examined, it contains alike an address and a prophecy. For it were a mistake to

suppose, that the picture which Azariah drew of Israel's sin and its consequence in vers. 3, 5, 6 was only

that of the far past in the time of the Judges, of the religious decline under Jeroboam and Abijah, or even of

their future apostasy and its punishment. All these were included in what the prophet set before the

people.258 And not only so, but his words extended beyond Judah, and applied to all Israel, as if the whole

people were viewed as still united, and ideally one in their relation to the Lord.259 Accordingly, it deserves

special notice, that neither in ver. 3 nor in ver. 5 any verb is used, as if to indicate the general application of

the "prophecy." But its present bearing, alike as regarded Judah's sin and repentance, and God's judgment

and mercy, was an earnest call to carry on and complete the good work which had already been begun (ver.