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.

Abijah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa, his son, became king in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

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

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God,

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

for he took away the foreign altars and the high places. He broke down the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.

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

He commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and to carry out 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.

Also he took away the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under him.

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

He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him peace.

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 YHWH our God, he has sought us and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

For Asa said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and succeeded.

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 that carried shields and spears; from Judah he had 300,000 men, and from Benjamin, 280,000 men who carried shields and drew bows. All of these were mighty men.

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.

Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million soldiers and three hundred chariots; he came to Mareshah.

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

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

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

Asa cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, “Yahweh, there is no one but you to help one who has no strength when he is facing many. Help us, Yahweh our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast number. Yahweh, you are our God; do not let man defeat you.”

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

So Yahweh struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah; 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 YHWH, and before his army; and they carried away very much booty.

Asa and the soldiers with him pursued them to Gerar. So many Cushites fell that they could not recover, for they were completely destroyed before Yahweh and his army. The army carried away very much plunder.

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

The army destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for terror of Yahweh had come on the inhabitants. The army plundered all the villages, and there was much booty in them.

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

The army also destroyed the tent settlements of the shepherding nomads; they carried away sheep in abundance, as well as camels, and then they returned to Jerusalem.