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.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
- BSB So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours 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.
- 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.
- NASB For he said to Judah, “Let’s 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 rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Asa urges the people to build because seeking the Lord has brought rest on every side. Prosperity is tied to wholehearted devotion to God.
Overview
Asa publicly credits Judah's security to their having sought Yahweh, and motivates further building on that foundation. The repetition of 'we have sought him' stresses that blessing flows from devotion, not mere effort. The verse ends with prosperity, illustrating the Chronicler's conviction that faithfulness and flourishing belong together under God's hand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Pet 3:12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
- 2 Chr 14:6And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
- John 12:35–36Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
- 1 Chr 28:9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
- Jer 29:12–14Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
- Heb 3:13–15But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
- Acts 9:31Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
- Matt 11:28–29Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- 2 Chr 14:4And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
- Ps 105:3–4Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
- 2 Chr 32:5Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
- John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
- 2 Chr 8:5Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
- Josh 23:1And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
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Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 14:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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