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
.
And Asa did
that which was good
and right
in the eyes
of the LORD
his God
:
For he took away the altars
of the strange
gods , and the high places
, and brake down
the images
, and cut down
the groves
:
And commanded Judah
to seek
the LORD
God
of their fathers
, and to do
the law
and the commandment
.
Also he took away out of all the cities
of Judah
the high places
and the images
: and the kingdom
was quiet
before
him.
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
.
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
.
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
.
And there came out against them Zerah
the Ethiopian
with an host
of a thousand
thousand
, and three
hundred
chariots
; and came
unto Mareshah
.
Then Asa went out
against
him, and they set the battle
in array
in the valley
of Zephathah
at Mareshah
.
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.
So the LORD smote
the Ethiopians
before
Asa
, and before
Judah
; and the Ethiopians
fled
.
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
.
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.
They smote also the tents
of cattle
, and carried away
sheep
and camels
in abundance
, and returned
to Jerusalem
.