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.

So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.

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

Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes,

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

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

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

and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

For he said to Judah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, 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 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.

Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.

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.

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

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

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

Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you.”

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

So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before 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.

Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So many of the Ethiopians fell that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army. Judah’s army carried away very much booty.

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.

They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

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

They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.