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 place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

2 Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

3 for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and cut down the Asherim,

He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.

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

He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, 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 sun images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.

6 He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.

7 For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours. Since we have sought the LORD our God, he has sought us and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

8 Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.

Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

9 There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah.

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

11 Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and those who have no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God. Do not let man prevail against you."

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his army; and they carried away very much booty.

Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder

14 They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came on them: and they plundered all the cities; for there was a great amount of plunder in them.

and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there.

15 They struck also the tents of livestock, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.