| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for 10 years. | 1 Then Abijah died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the City of David. Abijah's son Asa reigned in his place, and during his lifetime the land enjoyed rest for ten years. |
| 2Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God. | 2 Asa practiced what the LORD his God considered to be right |
| 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles. | 3by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down the sacred pillars, cutting down the Asherim, and |
| 4He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. | 4commanding Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to keep the Law and the commandments. |
| 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. | 5He 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. |
| 6Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because the LORD gave him rest. | 6Asa 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. |
| 7So he said to the people of Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God. We sought Him and He gave us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded. | 7He 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. |
| 8Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors. | 8Asa 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. |
| 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. | 9Sometime later, Zerah the Ethiopian went to war against him at Mareshah with an army of one million troops and 300 chariots. |
| 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10Asa went out to engage him in battle, and they drew up their battle lines at Mareshah in the Zephathah Valley. |
| 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: " LORD, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, LORD our God, for we depend on You, and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You." | 11Asa 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!" |
| 12So the LORD routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. | 12So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians right in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away. |
| 13Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot. | 13Asa and his army pursued the Ethiopians 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 carried off a lot of plunder, too, |
| 14Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the LORD was on them. They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them. | 14They 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. |
| 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the tents of those who owned livestock and carried off lots of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
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