Research Report on 2 Chronicles 14

The large counts of people found in the Bible are often prophetic for large intervals of time. This report looks at a time when Judah defended itself from Ethiopians.

Background

Huge counts, typically census counts, are prophetic for large intervals in world history. In this case Asa's army is victorious against the Ethiopians. The following is the census.

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8וַיֵּצֵ֨א אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם זֶ֣רַח הַכּוּשִׁ֗י בְּחַ֙יִל֙ אֶ֣לֶף אֲלָפִ֔ים וּמַרְכָּב֖וֹת שְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת וַיָּבֹ֖א עַד־ מָרֵשָֽׁה׃ (WLC)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.(KJV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah 300000; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, 280000: all these were mighty men of valour.(KJV/NC)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8And Asa had an army that bare bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. (ASV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8And Asa had an army of mighty men of valour that bore swords and spears out of the tribe of Judah, three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, that bore breastplate and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. (LAM)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah, armed with bucklers and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand men from Benjamin, that carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor.(RSV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men.(NIV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. (WEB)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. (WEB/HNV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:8 8And Asa had an army of mighty men of valor that bore swords and spears out of the tribe of Judah, 300,000, and out of Benjamin, that bore breastplate and drew bows, 280,000: all these were mighty men of valor. (BRB)

This particular battle appears to take place after 10 years of rest, so the natural starting point for this story is the 1st day of the 11th year of Asa's reign. The following report shows the intervals suggested by this census.

Abijah's reign is likely the starting point for this prophetic interval. The following is the report.

Prophetic dates from 2 Chronicles 14
DayBible DateModern DateRoman DateNumber
The start of Asa's battles:
Sat10047/1/1 AA 6 Aug -941 NS 27 Apr 257 BAUC AA:3664741
547/1/1 FE  15 Aug -941 OS 27 Apr 1010 BC JD:1377584
Forward 300,000 days, 1/warrior from Judah is:
Sun10869/5/1 AA 19 Dec -120 NS 22 Jan 632 AUC AA:3964741
1369/5/1 FE  22 Dec -120 OS 22 Jan 122 BC JD:1677584
Forward 280,000 days, 1/warrior from Benjamin is:
Sun11636/11/11 AA 1 Aug 647 NS 29 Jul 1400 AUC AA:4244741
2136/11/11 FE  29 Jul 647 OS 29 Jul 647 AD JD:1957584

The late 600s is a time of major prophetic changes, this story may be pointing at detailed stories within the century. Unknown.

Ethiopian Counts

The Ethiopian army census is also given in this account.

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9וַיֵּצֵ֥א אָסָ֖א לְפָנָ֑יו וַיַּֽעַרְכוּ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּגֵ֥יא צְפַ֖תָה לְמָרֵשָֽׁה׃ (WLC)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. (KJV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a 1000000, and 300 chariots; and came unto Mareshah. (KJV/NC)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah. (ASV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9¶ And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a large army of a million men and thirty thousand chariots, and came to Mareshah. (LAM)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mare'shah. (RSV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a vast army and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. (NIV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah. (WEB)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah. (WEB/HNV)

38 Second Chronicles 14:9 9And out against them came Zerah the Ethiopian with a large army of 1,000,000 men and 30,000 chariots, and came to Mareshah. (BRB)

It is possible these follow in direct succession... If so the following is the report.

Prophetic dates from 2 Chronicles 14 -- Cont.
DayBible DateModern DateRoman DateNumber
End of Benjamin, from above:
Sun11636/11/11 AA 1 Aug 647 NS 29 Jul 1400 AUC AA:4244741
2136/11/11 FE  29 Jul 647 OS 29 Jul 647 AD JD:1957584
1,000,000 men at 1/day:
Mon14378/2/21 AA 27 Jun 3385 NS 4 Jun 4138 AUC AA:5244741
4878/2/21 FE  4 Jun 3385 OS 4 Jun 3385 AD JD:2957584

Alternative -- "Came Out"

More likely the expression "came out" is a reference to an Exodus event, either the Exodus itself or a prophetic parallel. Since the Ethiopians are from Africa the original Exodus is a likely starting point.

Like other Chariot related stories, these chariots are also likely at a rate of 600 to 1. The following report sumarizes this scenario.

Prophetic dates from 2 Chronicles 14 -- Cont.
DayBible DateModern DateRoman DateNumber
Exodus from Egypt:
Tue9501/1/1 AA 15 May -1486 NS 7 Apr 912 BAUC AA:3465601
1/1/1 FE  28 May -1486 OS 7 Apr 1665 BC JD:1178444
1,000,000 men at 1/day:
Wed12242/5/11 AA 10 Apr 1252 NS 3 Apr 2005 AUC AA:4465601
2742/5/11 FE  3 Apr 1252 OS 3 Apr 1252 AD JD:2178444
300 Chariots at 600 days each:
Fri12735/10/11 AA 5 Feb 1745 NS 25 Jan 2498 AUC AA:4645601
3235/10/11 FE  25 Jan 1744 OS 25 Jan 1745 AD JD:2358444

This interval skips through a period in the mid-1200s and then ends within 12 days of Naphtali's seal date.