Chapter 14

So Abijah slept⁴ with his fathers, and they buried⁴ him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned⁴ in his stead. In his days the land was quiet¹ ten years.

And Asa did⁴ [that which was] good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

For he took away⁵⁵ the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and brake down¹⁷ the images, and cut down¹⁷ the groves:

And commanded⁴ Judah to seek² the LORD God of their fathers, and to do² the law and the commandment.

Also he took away⁵⁵ out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet⁴ before him.

And he built⁴ fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest,¹ and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.⁵²

Therefore he said⁴ unto Judah, Let us build⁴ these cities, and make about⁵⁵ [them] walls, and towers, gates, and bars, [while] the land [is] yet before us; because we have sought¹ the LORD our God, we have sought¹ [him], and he hath given us rest⁴ on every side. So they built⁴ and prospered.⁵⁵

And Asa had an army [of men] that bare⁶ targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare⁶ shields and drew⁶ bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these [were] mighty men of valour.

And there came out⁴ against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came⁴ unto Mareshah.

Then Asa went out⁴ against him, and they set the battle in array⁴ in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

And Asa cried⁴ unto the LORD his God, and said,⁴ LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help,² whether with many, or with them that have no power: help³ us, O LORD our God; for we rest⁸ on thee, and in thy name we go¹ against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail⁴ against thee.

So the LORD smote⁴ the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.⁴

And Asa and the people that [were] with him pursued⁴ them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown,⁴ that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed⁸ before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away⁴ very much⁵³ spoil.

And they smote⁵⁵ all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled⁴ all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

They smote⁵² also the tents of cattle, and carried away⁴ sheep and camels in abundance, and returned⁴ to Jerusalem.