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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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 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 they set in array for battle, in the valley of Zaphonah, at Mareshah.

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.”

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

So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians, before Asa, and before Judah, —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 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 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 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 Then they attacked the camps of the herdsmen and took many sheep and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.

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