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. 2 Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh his God’s eyes, 3 for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, 4 and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command. 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. 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 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 Yahweh 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 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 Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out to meet 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 besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you."

12 So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; 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 Yahweh and before his army. Judah’s army carried away very much booty. 14 They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of Yahweh came on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15 They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then 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 had rest 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 broke down the images and cut down the groves

4 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and they fulfilled the law and the commandments.

5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images, and the kingdom had rest 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, now that the land [is] 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 were prospered.

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

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

10 Then Asa went out against him, and they ordered the battle 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 those that have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; do not let 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 until there were none [left] alive, 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 booths of livestock and carried away sheep and camels in abundance and returned to Jerusalem.: