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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- 2 Chr 14:6He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest.
- John 12:35–36Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.
- 1 Chr 28:9You, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
- Jer 29:12–14You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
- Heb 3:13–15but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
- Acts 9:31So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
- Matt 11:28–29“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
- 2 Chr 14:4and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.
- Ps 105:3–4Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
- 2 Chr 32:5He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David’s city, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
- John 9:4I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.
- 2 Chr 8:5Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
- Josh 23:1After many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,
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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.
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Original language
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