1
So Abijahslept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his sonreigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiettenyears.
2
And Asadid 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 commandedJudah to seek the LORDGod 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 quietbefore him.
6
And he builtfencedcities 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 baretargets and spears, out of Judahthreehundredthousand; and out of Benjamin, that bareshields and drewbows, two hundred and fourscorethousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
9
And there cameout against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousandthousand, and threehundredchariots; and came unto Mareshah.
10
Then Asa went outagainst him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11
And Asacried 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 manprevail against thee.
12
So the LORDsmote the EthiopiansbeforeAsa, and beforeJudah; and the Ethiopiansfled.
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 destroyedbefore the LORD, and before his host; and they carried awayverymuchspoil.
14
And they smote all the cities round aboutGerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding muchspoil in them.
15
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried awaysheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.