2 Chronicles 14

1 Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

Abijah died and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa took over as king. For ten years of his reign the country was at peace.

2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

Asa did what was good and right in the Lord's sight.

3 He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.

He took down the foreign altars and high places, smashed their sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.

4 He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.

He ordered Judah to worship the Lord, the God of their forefathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.

5 He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.

He also took down the high places and the incense altars from all the towns of Judah. Under his rule the kingdom was at peace.

6 Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.

Because the country was at peace he was able to rebuild the fortified towns of Judah. There were no wars during these years because the Lord had granted him peace.

7 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.

Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build up these towns and surround them with walls and towers and barred gates. The land is still ours, because we continue to worship the Lord our God. We worship him, and he has given us peace from all our enemies.” So they began the building projects, and completed them successfully.

8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

Asa had an army made up of three hundred thousand men from Judah who carried large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand men from Benjamin who carried regular shields and bows. All of them were brave warriors.

9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

Zerah the Ethiopian attacked them with an army of a thousand times a thousand men and three hundred chariots, advancing as far as Mareshah.

10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

Asa went out to confront him, lining up for battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

Asa called out for help to the Lord his God: “Lord, there is no one apart from you who can help the powerless against the powerful. Please help us, Lord our God, for we trust in you. We have come against this horde because we stand for you, Lord. You are our God. Do not let a mere human being beat you.”

12 So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

The Lord struck the Ethiopians in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away.

13 Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder

Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Ethiopians were killed—there were none who survived, for they were caught between the Lord and his army. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder.

14 and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there.

They also attacked all the towns around Gerar, because the inhabitants were terrified of the Lord. The men of Judah took a large amount of plunder from all the towns.

15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

Then they attacked the camps of the herdsmen and took many sheep and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.