< Chronicles II 14 >
1 And Abia died with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In the days of Asa the land of Juda had rest ten years.
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 he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.
And Asa did [that which was] good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
3 And he removed the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves:
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 he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and commandments.
And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 And he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, and established in quietness
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 fortified cities in the land of Juda; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in these years; for the Lord gave him rest.
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 And he said to Juda, Let us fortify these cities, and make walls, and towers, and gates, and bars: we shall prevail over the land, for as we have sought out the Lord our God, he has sought out us, and has given us rest round about, and prospered us.
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 a force of armed men bearing shields and spears in the land of Juda, [even] three hundred thousand, and in the land of Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand targeteers and archers: all these were mighty warriors.
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 Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa.
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 And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Maresa.
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is not impossible with you to save by many or by few: strengthen us, O Lord our God; for we trust in you, and in your name have we come against this great multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against you.
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 not man prevail against thee.
12 And the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians fled.
So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and his people pursued them to Gedor; and the Ethiopians fell, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were crushed before the Lord, and before his host; and they took many spoils.
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 destroyed their towns roundabout Gedor; for a terror of the Lord was upon them: and they spoiled all their cities, for they had much spoil.
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 Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.