2 Chronicles 14

1 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.

And Abia died with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In the days of Asa the land of Juda had rest ten years.

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

And he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

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

And he removed the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves:

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

and he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and 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.

And he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, and established in quietness

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.

fortified cities in the land of Juda; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in these years; for the Lord gave him rest.

7 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.

And he said to Juda, Let us fortify these cities, and make walls, and towers, and gates, and bars: we shall prevail over the land, for as we have sought out the Lord our God, he has sought out us, and has given us rest round about, and prospered us.

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

And Asa had a force of armed men bearing shields and spears in the land of Juda, [even] three hundred thousand, and in the land of Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand targeteers and archers: all these were mighty warriors.

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

And Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa.

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

And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Maresa.

11 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.”

And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is not impossible with you to save by many or by few: strengthen us, O Lord our God; for we trust in you, and in your name have we come against this great multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against you.

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

And the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians fled.

13 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.

And Asa and his people pursued them to Gedor; and the Ethiopians fell, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were crushed before the Lord, and before his host; and they took many spoils.

14 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.

And they destroyed their towns roundabout Gedor; for a terror of the Lord was upon them: and they spoiled all their cities, for they had much spoil.

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

Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.