obey Its precepts (John xiii. 34; Rom. xiii. 8; Gal. v.13; Eph. v. 2) and carry out its principles (Matt, vii. 12; Rom. xiii. 10; Jae. ii. 8). The reign of Christianity in nay ne.tion would put e.n end to civil feuds e.nd we.rs of aggression. With the extinction of these, we.re of defence would cease. II. A 0OLDEN OPPORTUNITY. 1. For the furtherance of true religi()'TI,. Beeides eettin"' e.n example of personal religion-the most effective way in which kiogs can promot; national religion-Asa. laboured with promptitude, decision, and assiduity in the work of abolishing the prevalent idolatry. (1) He demolished the "strange altars," i.e. altars to foreign divinities which had been erected by his predecessors, Solomon and Rehoboam, and left standing by his father Abijah. (2) He removed the "high places" dedicated to idolatrous worship, though he allowed those which had been con- secrated to Jehovah to remain (eh. xv. 17; 1 Kings xv.14). (3) He brake down the "pillars," obelisks or monumental columns dedicated to Baa.I (2 Kings iii. 2; x. 26), resembling that erected by Jacob a.t Bethel (Gen. xxxv. 14), and perhaps also those set up by Moses at Sinai (Exod. xxiv. 4) in honour of Jehovah. (4) The .Asherim, wooden idols or tree trunks, consecrated to .Astarte (see Keil on 1 Kings xiv. 23), he hewed down. (5) From a.II the cities of Judah he removed the high places and the sun-images, i.e. pillars or statues consecrated to Baal as the sun-god, and erected near or upon the altars of Baal (eh. xxxiv. 4). So Christian kings and statesmen should labour at the destruction of all false forms of religion within their domains ; not, how- ever, by forcible suppression, which, though permitted and even demanded of Asa, is not allowed to sovereigns or, indeed, to any under the gospel, but by fostering in a.11 legitimate ways what they believe to be the absolute and only true religion. 2. F<Yr promulgating useful laws. When nations are distracted by internecine feuds within themselves or between each other, it is hopeless to expect the work of good legislation to proceed. Hence the value of a" long peace" to any country, permitting, as it does, the cultivation of the peaceful arts, the development of trade and commerce, the spread of learning and culture, the growth of domestic institutions, and the promotion of measures for the welfare of the state. Asa, in the ten years of rest, " commanded Judah to seek tbe Lord God of their fathers, and to do the Law and the commandment n (ver. 4); and though under the New Testament dispensation it is not required of kings to command their subjects to worship and obey God-that being an obligation already laid on men by the gospel-and far less to punish them should they disobey, it is, nevertheless, allowed kings to follow in Asa's footsteps so far as to utilize the years of rest their countries may enjoy in legislating for the comfort and happiness of their subjects. 3. For securing the safety of the realm. Asa did so by (1) erecting military fortresses, "fenced cities" in the land of Judah, surrounding them with wa.lls and towers, and securing them with gates and bolts ; and (2) by collecting around him a well-equipped army-from Judah 300,000 targeteers and spearmen, with heavy shields and lances (1 Chron. xii. 24); and from Benjamin 280,000, bearing light shields and furnished with bows (1 Chron. viii. 40). So should Christian states employ times of peace in constructing such bulwarks as their lands require, whether in the shape of garrison cities, regiments of soldiers, or fleets of war-vessels, since self-preservation is an instinct of nature as much for nations as for individuals, and is not forbidden to either by the gospel, while to be prepared for war is sometimes an effective means of securing peace (Luke xi. 21). LESSON. The duty of individuals and nations to shun war and follow peace.-W.
Vers. 9-15.-An alarming invasion. I. THE INVADER AND HIS ARMY. (Ver. 9.) 1. The invader. Zerah, the Ethiopian (or Cushite), commonly identified with Osorkhon (Usarkon) I. king of Egypt, the second sovereign of the twenty-second or Buba.stio dynasty (Rossellini, Wilkinson, Champollion, Lepsius, Rawlinson, Ebers); but, inasmuch as no Ethiopian appears among the monumental kings of this dynasty, a claim to be regarded as the Zerah of Scripture has been advanced in behalf of Azerch- amen, an Ethiopian conqueror of Egypt (Schrader, Brugsch), who, in the reign of Osorkhon, overran the entire dominion of the Pharaohs, and, though unable at that time to retain his hold, nevertheless paved the way for the subsequent conquest of the country by Pianchi, of the twenty-fifth or Ethiopian dynasty. If, however, the former identification be provisionally accepteq, Zerah's designation as 14 the Cushite" may be H, CUUONW~l!j3, .)I 178 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE OHRONICLES. [c11. xiv. 1-16.