2 Chronicles 14

1So 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.

1Abijah died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. During the first ten years of Asa's reign, the land was peaceful.

2And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God:

2Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

3for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,

3He removed the foreign altars and the shrines on the hills, smashed the sacred stone pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.

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

4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands.

5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

5He also removed the high places and incense altars from every city in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under his rule.

6And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest.

6Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. He had no war during those years because the LORD gave him rest.

7For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

7Asa said to the people of Judah, 'Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.' So they built and were successful.

8And Asa had an army that bare bucklers 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 valor.

8Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah equipped with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin equipped with small shields and bows. All of these were brave and capable warriors.

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

9Zerah the Ethiopian marched out against them with an army of one million men and 300 chariots, and he advanced as far as Mareshah.

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

10Asa went out to meet him, and they lined up for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

11And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

11Asa called out to the LORD his God, 'LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you!'

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

12The LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

13And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.

13Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. So many Ethiopians fell that the army could not recover; they were crushed before the LORD and his forces. Asa’s men carried away a great amount of loot.

14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.

14They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, because the fear of the LORD had fallen on those cities. They looted all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

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

15They also attacked the camps of the herdsmen and carried off large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.