2 Chronicles 14

1 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.

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 [that which 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 For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

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

4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

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

5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto 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 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

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

11 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.

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 smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

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

13 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.

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 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.

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 smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

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