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 rested ten years.

Then Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. And his son, Asa, reigned in his place. During his days, the land was quiet for ten years.

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

Now Asa did what was good and pleasing in the sight of his God. And he overturned the altars of foreign worship, and the high places.

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

And he broke apart the statues, and he cut down the sacred groves.

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

And he instructed Judah that they should seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and that they should carry out the law and all the commandments.

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

And he took away, from all the cities of Judah, the altars and the shrines. And he reigned in peace.

6 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.

Also, he built fortified cities in Judah. For it was quiet, and in his time no wars had arisen. For the Lord was generously granting peace.

7 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.

Then he said to Judah: “Let us build these cities, and strengthen them with walls, and fortify them with towers and gates and bars, while all things are at rest from wars. For we have sought the Lord, the God of our fathers, and he has granted to us peace on every side.” And so they built, and there was nothing to impede them from building.

8 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.

Now Asa had in his army three hundred thousand men of Judah, carrying shields and spears, and truly, of Benjamin, two hundred eighty thousand men with shields and bows. All of these were very valiant men.

9 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.

Then Zerah, the Ethiopian, went forth against them with his army of one million men, and three hundred chariots. And he approached as far as Mareshah.

10 And Asa went out to meet him, —and they set in array for battle, in the valley of Zaphonah, at Mareshah.

And Asa traveled to meet him, and he set up a battle line for the war in the Valley of Zephathah, which is near Mareshah.

11 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.

And he called upon the Lord God, and he said: “O Lord, there is no difference to you, whether you assist by few, or by many. Help us, O Lord our God. For having faith in you and in your name, we have gone forth against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God. Do not allow man to prevail against you.”

12 So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians, before Asa, and before Judah, —and the Ethiopians fled.

And so the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah. And the Ethiopians fled.

13 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.

And Asa, and the people who were with him, pursued them as far as Gerar. And the Ethiopians fell, even unto utter destruction, for the Lord was striking, and his army was battling, and they were destroyed. Therefore, they took many spoils.

14 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.

And they struck all the cities surrounding Gerar. For indeed, a great fear had overwhelmed everyone. And they despoiled the cities, and they carried away much plunder.

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

Then too, destroying the fencing for the sheep, they took an innumerable multitude of cattle and camels. And they returned to Jerusalem.