1 aSo Abijah slept
with his fathers
, and they buried
him in the city
of David
, and his son
Asa
became
king
in his place
. The land
was undisturbed
for ten
years
during his days
.
1Asa did
good
and right
in the sight
of the LORD
his God
,
for he removed athe foreign
altars
and bhigh
places
, tore
down
the sacred pillars
, cut
down
the 1 cAsherim
,
and commanded Judah
to seek
the LORD
God
of their fathers
and to observe
the law
and the commandment
.
He also removed the high
places
and the aincense
altars
from all
the cities
of Judah
. And the kingdom
was undisturbed
under
him.
aHe built fortified
cities
in Judah
, since
the land
was undisturbed
, and 1there
was no
one
at war
with him during those
years
, bbecause
the LORD
had given
him rest
.
For he said to Judah
, " aLet us build
these
cities
and surround
them with walls
and towers
, gates
and bars
. The land
is still
1ours
because
we have sought
the LORD
our God
; we have sought
Him, and He has given
us rest
on every
side
." So they built
and prospered
.
Now Asa had
an army
of a300,000
from Judah
, bearing
large
shields
and spears
, and 280,000
from Benjamin
, bearing
shields
and wielding
bows
; all
of them were valiant
warriors
.
Now Zerah the Ethiopian
acame
out against
them with an army
of a million
men and 300
chariots
, and he came
to bMareshah
.
So Asa went
out 1to meet
him, and they drew
up in battle
formation
in the valley
of Zephathah
at Mareshah
.
Then Asa acalled
to the LORD
his God
and said
, "LORD
, there
is no
one
besides
You to help
in the battle between
the powerful
and those who have
no
strength
; so help
us, O LORD
our God
, bfor we trust
in You, and in Your name
have come
against
this
multitude
. O LORD
, You are our God
; let not man
prevail
against
You."
So athe LORD 1routed
the Ethiopians
before
Asa
and before
Judah
, and the Ethiopians
fled
.
Asa and the people
who
were with him pursued
them as far
as aGerar
; and so many Ethiopians
fell
that 1they could not recover
, for they were shattered
before
the LORD
and before
His army
. And they carried
away very
much
plunder
.
They 1destroyed all
the cities
around
Gerar
, afor the dread
of the LORD
had fallen
on them; and they despoiled
all
the cities
, for there was much
plunder
in them.
They also struck
down
1those who owned
livestock
, and they carried
away large
numbers
of sheep
and camels
. Then they returned
to Jerusalem
.