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 And
Asa did 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
commanded Judah to seek the LORD God 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 quiet before him.
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 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 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 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 Then
Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of
Zephathah at Mareshah.
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 So
the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians
fled.
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 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 They
smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance,
and returned to Jerusalem.
