2 Chronicles 14

1 And Abia 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.

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 rested ten years.

2 And Asa did that which was good and pleasing in the sight of his God, and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high places.

And Asa did that which was good and that which was right, in the eyes of Yahweh his God;

3 And broke the statues, and cut down the groves.

and took away the foreign altars, and the high places, —and brake in pieces the pillars, and cut in twain the Sacred Stems;

4 And he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments.

and bade Judah seek Yahweh, God of their fathers, -and execute the law, and the commandment;

5 And he took away out of all the cities of Juda the altars, and temples, and reigned in peace.

and removed from all the cities of Judah, the high places, and the sun-images, —and the kingdom became quiet before him.

6 He built also strong cities in Juda, for he was quiet, and there had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace.

And he built cities of defence, in Judah, —for the land had quiet, nor was there near him any war, in these years, because Yahweh had given him rest.

7 And he said to Juda: Let us build these cities, and compass them with walls, and fortify them with towers, and gates, and bars, while all is quiet from wars, because we have sought the Lord the God of our fathers, and he hath given us peace round about. So they built, and there was no hinderance in building.

Therefore said he to Judah, Let us build these cities, and let us surround them with walls and towers, doors and bars, while the land is yet before us, for we have sought Yahweh our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered.

8 And Asa had in his army of men that bore shields and spears of Juda three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand, all these were most valiant men.

And it came to pass that, Asa, had a force bearing shield and spear, out of Judah, three hundred thousand, and, out of Benjamin, such as bare a buckler and trode a bow, two hundred and eighty thousand, —all these, were heroes of valour.

9 And Zara the Ethiopian came out against them with his army of ten hundred thousand men, and with three hundred chariots: and he came as far as Maresa.

Then came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with a force of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots, —and he came as far as Mareshah.

10 And Asa went out to meet him, and set his army in array for battle in the vale of Sephata, which is near Maresa:

And Asa went out to meet him, —and they set in array for battle, in the valley of Zaphonah, at Mareshah.

11 And he called upon the Lord God, and said: O Lord, there is no difference with thee, whether thou help with few, or with many: help us, O Lord our God: for with confidence in thee, and in thy name, we are come against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee.

Then Asa cried out unto Yahweh his God, and said, O Yahweh, it is, nothing with thee, to help whether with many or with such as have no strength. Help us, O Yahweh our God, for, on thee, do we lean, and, in thy name, have we come against this multitude, —O Yahweh! our God, thou art, let not, weak man, have power against thee.

12 And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Juda: and the Ethiopians fled.

So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians, before Asa, and before Judah, —and the Ethiopians fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerara: and the Ethiopians fell even to utter destruction, for the Lord slew them, and his army fought against them, and they were destroyed. And they took abundance of spoils,

And Asa and the people that were with him pursued as far as to Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell, so that there was no way for them to recover, for they were routed before Yahweh, and before him host, —and they carried away exceeding much spoil.

14 And they took all the cities round about Gerara: for a great fear was come upon all men: and they pillaged the cities, and carried off much booty.

And they smote all the cities round shout Gerar, for the dread of Yahweh was upon them, —and they plundered all the cities, for, great plunder, was there in them.

15 And they destroyed the sheepcotes, and took an infinite number of cattle, and of camels: and returned to Jerusalem.

Moreover also, the tents of the cattle, they smote, —and carried off sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.