2 Chronicles 14

1 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.

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.

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

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

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

For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves:

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

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

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

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

6 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.

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.

7 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.

Therefore he said to 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 has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

8 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.

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

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

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah.

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

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

11 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.”

And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let no man prevail against you.

12 So Yahweh struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah; the Cushites fled.

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

13 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.

And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to 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.

14 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.

And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came on them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

15 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.

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