2 Chronicles 14

1 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.

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.

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

And he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

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

And he removed the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves:

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

and he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and commandments.

5 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.

And he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, and established in quietness

6 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.

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.

7 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.

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.

8 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.

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.

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

And Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa.

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

And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Maresa.

11 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.”

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.

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

And the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians fled.

13 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.

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.

14 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.

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.

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

Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.