2Chronicles 14

1 ^{a14:1 This v. is 13:23 in MT} Then Abijah died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the City of David. Abijah’s ^{b14:1 Lit. His} son Asa reigned in his place, and during his lifetime the land enjoyed rest for ten years. ( )ISV — 2Chronicles 14:1

2 ^{c14:2 This v. is 14:1 in MT, and so throughout the chapter} Asa practiced what the LORD his God considered to be rightISV — 2Chronicles 14:2

3 by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down the sacred pillars, cutting down the Asherim, ^{d14:3 i.e. cultic pillars erected in worship to Canaanite deities; or groves} andISV — 2Chronicles 14:3

4 commanding Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to keep the Law and the commandments.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:4

5 He also removed the high places and incense altars from all of the cities of Judah. As a result, the kingdom enjoyed rest under Asa’s leadership. ^{e14:5 Lit. under him}ISV — 2Chronicles 14:5

6 Asa ^{f14:6 Lit. He} built fortified cities throughout Judah while the land lay undisturbed, because the LORD had given him peace so that no one went to war against him during those years.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:6

7 He had told Judah, “Let’s build up these cities, surrounding them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land still belongs to us, because we have kept on seeking the LORD our God. We have sought him out, and he has given us rest all around us.” So the people built and prospered.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:7

8 Asa kept a standing army of 300,000 soldiers from Judah equipped with large shields and spears, as well as 280,000 soldiers from Benjamin, also bearing shields and wielding bows. All of them were valiant soldiers.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:8

9 Sometime later, Zerah the Ethiopian went to war against him at Mareshah with an army of one million troops and 300 chariots.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:9

10 Asa went out to engage him in battle, and they drew up their battle lines at Mareshah in the Zephathah Valley.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:10

11 Asa cried out to the LORD his God, telling him, “LORD, there is no one except for you to help between the powerful and the weak. So help us, LORD God, because we’re depending on you and have come against this vast group in your name. LORD, you are our God. Let no mere mortal man defeat you!”ISV — 2Chronicles 14:11

12 So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians right in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:12

13 Asa and his army pursued the Ethiopians ^{g14:13 Lit. them} as far as Gerar. So many Ethiopians died that their army could not recover, because it had been shattered in the LORD’s presence and in the presence of his army. The Israelis ^{h14:13 Lit. They} carried off a lot of plunder, too,ISV — 2Chronicles 14:13

14 They attacked all the cities that surrounded Gerar, because fear of the LORD had overwhelmed them. The Israelis spoiled all the cities, because there was a lot to plunder in them.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:14

15 They also attacked the tents of those who owned livestock and carried off lots of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.ISV — 2Chronicles 14:15