1
So Abijah[H29]slept[H7901] with his fathers[H1], and they buried[H6912] him in the city[H5892] of David[H1732]: and Asa[H609] his son[H1121]reigned[H4427] in his stead. In his days[H3117] the land[H776] was quiet[H8252]ten[H6235]years[H8141].
2
And Asa[H609]did[H6213] that which was good[H2896] and right[H3477] in the eyes[H5869] of the LORD[H3068] his God[H430]:
3
For he took away[H5493] the altars[H4196] of the strange[H5236] gods, and the high places[H1116], and brake down[H7665] the images[H4676], and cut down[H1438] the groves[H842]:
4
And commanded[H559]Judah[H3063] to seek[H1875] the LORD[H3068]God[H430] of their fathers[H1], and to do[H6213] the law[H8451] and the commandment[H4687].
5
Also he took away[H5493] out of all the cities[H5892] of Judah[H3063] the high places[H1116] and the images[H2553]: and the kingdom[H4467] was quiet[H8252]before[H6440] him.
6
And he built[H1129]fenced[H4694]cities[H5892] in Judah[H3063]: for the land[H776] had rest[H8252], and he had no war[H4421] in those years[H8141]; because the LORD[H3068] had given him rest[H5117].
7
Therefore he said[H559] unto Judah[H3063], Let us build[H1129] these cities[H5892], and make about[H5437] them walls[H2346], and towers[H4026], gates[H1817], and bars[H1280], while the land[H776] is yet before[H6440] us; because we have sought[H1875] the LORD[H3068] our God[H430], we have sought[H1875] him, and he hath given us rest[H5117] on every side[H5439]. So they built[H1129] and prospered[H6743].
8
And Asa[H609] had an army[H2428] of men[H1368] that bare[H5375]targets[H6793] and spears[H7420], out of Judah[H3063]three[H7969]hundred[H3967]thousand[H505]; and out of Benjamin[H1144], that bare[H5375]shields[H4043] and drew[H1869]bows[H7198], two hundred[H3967] and fourscore[H8084]thousand[H505]: all these were mighty men[H1368] of valour[H2428].
9
And there came[H935]out[H3318] against them Zerah[H2226] the Ethiopian[H3569] with an host[H2428] of a thousand[H505]thousand[H505], and three[H7969]hundred[H3967]chariots[H4818]; and came[H935] unto Mareshah[H4762].
10
Then Asa[H609] went out[H3318]against[H6440] him, and they set the battle[H4421] in array[H6186] in the valley[H1516] of Zephathah[H6859] at Mareshah[H4762].
11
And Asa[H609]cried[H7121] unto the LORD[H3068] his God[H430], and said[H559], LORD[H3068], it is nothing with thee to help[H5826], whether[H996] with many[H7227], or with them that have no power[H3581]: help[H5826] us, O LORD[H3068] our God[H430]; for we rest[H8172] on thee, and in thy name[H8034] we go[H935] against this multitude[H1995]. O LORD[H3068], thou art our God[H430]; let not man[H582]prevail[H6113] against thee.
12
So the LORD[H3068]smote[H5062] the Ethiopians[H3569]before[H6440]Asa[H609], and before[H6440]Judah[H3063]; and the Ethiopians[H3569]fled[H5127].
13
And Asa[H609] and the people[H5971] that were with him pursued[H7291] them unto Gerar[H1642]: and the Ethiopians[H3569] were overthrown[H5307], that they could not recover[H4241] themselves; for they were destroyed[H7665]before[H6440] the LORD[H3068], and before[H6440] his host[H4264]; and they carried away[H5375]very[H3966]much[H7235]spoil[H7998].
14
And they smote[H5221] all the cities[H5892] round about[H5439]Gerar[H1642]; for the fear[H6343] of the LORD[H3068] came upon them: and they spoiled[H962] all the cities[H5892]; for there was exceeding much[H7227]spoil[H961] in them.
15
They smote[H5221] also the tents[H168] of cattle[H4735], and carried away[H7617]sheep[H6629] and camels[H1581] in abundance[H7230], and returned[H7725] to Jerusalem[H3389].