| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 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. | 1Abijah passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa replaced him as king. During his reign the land had rest for ten years. |
| 2Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God. | 2Asa did what the LORD his God desired and approved. |
| 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles. | 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. |
| 4He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. | 4He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands. |
| 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. | 5He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule. |
| 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. | 6He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the LORD gave him peace. |
| 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 said to the people of Judah: "Let's build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. The land remains ours because we have followed the LORD our God and he has made us secure on all sides." So they built the cities 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 had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin who carried small shields and were adept archers; they were all skilled warriors. |
| 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. | 9Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah, |
| 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. |
| 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 prayed to the LORD his God: "O LORD, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O LORD our God, don't let men prevail against you!" |
| 12So the LORD routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. | 12The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, |
| 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. | 13and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; they were shattered before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried off a huge amount of plunder. |
| 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 defeated all the cities surrounding Gerar, for the LORD caused them to panic. The men of Judah looted all the cities, for they contained a huge amount of goods. |
| 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 the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem. |
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