2 Chronicles, 14

1. Asa did what Yahweh his God regards as good and right.

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. He abolished the foreign altars and the high places, broke the pillars, cut down the sacred poles,

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

3. and urged Judah to seek Yahweh, God of their ancestors, and to observe the law and commandment.

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. Because he abolished the high places and incense altars through the towns of Judah, the kingdom under him was undisturbed.

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

5. He rebuilt the fortified towns of Judah, since the country was at peace and free of war during those years, because Yahweh had granted him peace.

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. 'Let us rebuild these towns,' he told Judah, 'let us surround them with wall and tower, with gate and bar while the country is still ours, for we have sought Yahweh our God and he has sought us and given us peace all around.' They built and prospered.

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. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men of Judah armed with shields and spears and two hundred and eighty thousand men of Benjamin armed with shields and bows, all of them outstanding soldiers.

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. Zerah the Cushite took the field against them with an army a million strong and three hundred chariots, and penetrated to Mareshah.

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. Asa took the field against him and the battle-lines were drawn up in the Valley of Zephathah, at Mareshah.

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. Asa then called on Yahweh his God and said, 'Yahweh, numbers and strength make no difference to you when you give your help. Help us, Yahweh our God, for, relying on you, we are confronting this horde in your name. Yahweh, you are our God. Human strength cannot prevail against you!'

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

11. Yahweh routed the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,

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. and Asa pursued them with his army as far as Gerar. So many of the Cushites fell that they were unable to survive. They were cut to pieces by Yahweh and his army. They carried off a great deal of booty,

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

13. they destroyed all the towns round Gerar -- for a panic from Yahweh had seized the towns -- and plundered all the towns since they were full of loot.

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. They also routed the cattle-owners and carried off great numbers of sheep and camels; then they returned to Jerusalem.

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.

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