2 Chronicles 14

1 Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

3 He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.

4 He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.

5 He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.

6 Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.

7 So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours 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 of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

10 So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

12 So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

13 Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder

14 and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there.

15 They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

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 was quiet ten years.

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

3 For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

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

5 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 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 Therefore he said unto 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 hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

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

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

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

11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail against thee.

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

13 And Asa and the people that [were] with him pursued them unto 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 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

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

2 And Assa did that which was right, and acceptable unto the LORD his God.

3 And he took away the strange altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and cut down the groves;

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

5 And he put away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the idols. For the kingdom was quiet before him.

6 And he built strong cities in Judah, because the land was quiet, and there was no war against him in those years: for the LORD gave him rest.

7 And he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and let us build walls round about, and towers, and doors, and bars, because the land is yet before us: for we have sought the LORD our God, and he hath given us rest round about. So they built, and prospered.

8 And Asa had a host bearing shields and spears: out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, bearing shields and bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: and all these were mighty men of valour.

9 And Serah the Moor came out against them with a host a thousand thousand strong, and three hundred chariots: and they came as far as Mareshah.

10 And Asa went out against him, and they made ready for battle in the valley of Zephathah by Mareshah.

11 And Assa cried unto the LORD his God, saying, O LORD, there is no difference with thee, whether there be help among many, or whether there be no strength. Help us, O LORD our God: for we trust in thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O LORD our God, against thee no man is able.

12 And the LORD afflicted the Moors before Asa, and before Judah, that they fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued after them unto Gerar. And the Moors fell, and none of them lived: but they were smitten before the LORD, and before his camp. And they carried away much spoil.

14 And he smote all the cities that were round about Gerar: for the fear of the LORD was upon them. And they spoiled all the cities: for there was much spoil in them.

15 And they smote the tents of the cattle, and brought sheep in multitude, and camels: and they returned to Jerusalem.