14 Abijah died and they buried him beside his ancestors in the City of David. Abijah's son Asa became king after him. The country had peace for ten years while Asa was king.
2 Asa did things that pleased the Lord his God. 3 He removed the altars and other places where people worshipped foreign gods. He broke the stone pillars and he cut down the Asherah poles. [ a ] 4 Asa commanded the people of Judah to worship the Lord , the God of their ancestors. He told them to obey God's law and his commands. 5 He removed the altars on the hills. He also removed the altars in all Judah's cities where people burned incense. There was peace in his kingdom while he ruled.
6 While there was peace in the land, Asa made the cities of Judah strong and safe. No enemies fought wars against Judah during that time. The Lord gave Asa rest from any trouble.
7 Asa said to Judah's people, ‘We should build these towns and make them stronger. We must put walls around them, with towers and strong gates. Judah still belongs to us because we have obeyed the Lord our God. He has made us safe from our enemies all around us.’
So the people made these towns strong. Everything went well for them.
8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah. They carried big shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin's tribe. Those men carried small shields and they could shoot arrows with their bows. They were all brave soldiers who could fight well.
9 A man from Ethiopia called Zerah marched out to attack Judah. He had a very big army of a million soldiers and 300 chariots. When he reached Mareshah, 10 Asa went out to fight against him. The two armies prepared to fight a battle in Zephathah valley, near Mareshah.
11 Then Asa called out to the Lord his God to help him. He prayed, ‘There is nobody like you Lord . You have power to help a few weak people against many strong people. Help us, Lord our God, because we trust you. We want people to give honour to your name. That is why we have come to fight against this large army. Lord , you are our God. You cannot let these men win against you.’
12 So the Lord knocked down Zerah's soldiers as Asa and Judah's army attacked them. The Ethiopian soldiers ran away. 13 Asa and his soldiers chased after them until they reached Gerar. So many Ethiopian soldiers died there that their army could not fight any more. The Lord and his army completely destroyed them. Judah's soldiers carried away lots of their enemies' things for themselves.
14 The Lord caused the people in the towns near Gerar to become very afraid. So Judah's soldiers were able to attack those towns. There were many valuable things in all those towns and Judah's men took them away for themselves. 15 They also attacked the tents of the people who took care of animals. They took away many sheep and camels from there. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
14 When Abijah died, they buried him in the City of David. Abijah’s son Asa became the new king after him. There was peace in the country for ten years in Asa’s time.
2 Asa did what the Lord his God said was good and right. 3 He took away the altars of the foreigners and the high places. He also smashed the memorial stones and cut down the Asherah poles. 4 He commanded the people of Judah to follow the Lord , the God their ancestors had worshiped, and to obey his laws and commands. 5 He also removed all the high places and incense altars from all the towns in Judah. So the kingdom had peace when Asa was king. 6 Asa built strong cities in Judah while there was peace in Judah. He had no war in these years because the Lord gave him peace.
7 Asa said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these towns and make walls around them. Let’s make towers, gates, and bars in the gates. Let’s do this while we still live in this country. This country is ours because we have followed the Lord our God. He has given us peace all around us.” So they built and had success.
8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from the tribe of Judah and 280,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin. The men from Judah carried large shields and spears. The men from Benjamin carried small shields and shot arrows from bows. All of them were strong and brave soldiers.
9 Then Zerah from Ethiopia [ a ] came out against Asa’s army. He had 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots in his army. His army went as far as the town of Mareshah. 10 Asa went out to fight against Zerah. Asa’s army got ready for battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 Asa called out to the Lord his God and said, “ Lord , only you can help weak people against those who are strong! Help us, Lord our God! We depend on you. We fight against this large army in your name. Lord , you are our God! Don’t let anyone defeat you!”
12 Then the Lord used Asa’s army from Judah to defeat the Ethiopian army. And the army ran away. 13 Asa’s army chased the Ethiopian army all the way to the town of Gerar. So many Ethiopians were killed that they could not get together as an army to fight again. They were crushed by the Lord and his army. Asa and his army carried many valuable things away from the enemy. 14 Asa and his army defeated all the towns near Gerar. The people living in those towns were afraid of the Lord . Those towns had very many valuable things. Asa’s army took those valuable things away from those towns. 15 His army also attacked the camps where the shepherds lived and took many sheep and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.
14 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And 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.
7 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.
8 And 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.
9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord , it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord , thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.
12 So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord , and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
14 [ a ] ( A ) So Abijah [ b ] lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.
2 [ c ] And Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God, 3 for he removed ( B ) the foreign altars and ( C ) high places, tore down the memorial stones, cut down the [ d ] ( D ) Asherim, 4 and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers and to [ e ] comply with the Law and the commandment. 5 He also removed the high places and the ( E ) incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. 6 ( F ) He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and [ f ] there was no one at war with him during those years, ( G ) because the Lord had given him rest. 7 For he said to Judah, “ ( H ) Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still [ g ] 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. 8 Now Asa had an army of ( I ) three hundred thousand from Judah, carrying large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, carrying shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.
9 Now Zerah the Ethiopian ( J ) went out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to ( K ) Mareshah. 10 So Asa went out [ h ] to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 Then Asa ( L ) called to the Lord his God and said, “ Lord , there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; help us, Lord our God, ( M ) for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. Lord , You are our God; do not let man prevail against You.” 12 So ( N ) the Lord [ i ] routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as ( O ) Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that [ j ] they could not recover, for they were shattered before the Lord and before His army. And they carried away a very large amount of plunder. 14 They [ k ] destroyed all the cities around Gerar, ( P ) for the dread of the Lord had fallen on them; and they pillaged all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15 They also fatally struck [ l ] those who owned livestock, and they led away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
14 [ a ] And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years.
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. ( B ) 3 He removed the foreign altars ( C ) and the high places, smashed the sacred stones ( D ) and cut down the Asherah poles. [ b ] ( E ) 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord , ( F ) the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. 5 He removed the high places ( G ) and incense altars ( H ) in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest. ( I )
7 “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest ( J ) on every side.” So they built and prospered.
8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand ( K ) 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.
9 Zerah the Cushite ( L ) marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. ( M ) 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
11 Then Asa called ( N ) to the Lord his God and said, “ Lord , there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, ( O ) Lord our God, for we rely ( P ) on you, and in your name ( Q ) we have come against this vast army. Lord , you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail ( R ) against you.”
12 The Lord struck down ( S ) the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13 and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. ( T ) Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed ( U ) before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder. ( V ) 14 They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror ( W ) of the Lord had fallen on them. They looted all these villages, since there was much plunder there. 15 They also attacked the camps of the herders and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
