| International Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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. | 1So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. |
| 2 Asa practiced what the LORD his God considered to be right | 2Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, |
| 3by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down the sacred pillars, cutting down the Asherim, and | 3for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, |
| 4commanding Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to keep the Law and the commandments. | 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. |
| 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. | 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. |
| 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. | 6He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the LORD had given him rest. |
| 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. | 7For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered. |
| 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. | 8Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors. |
| 9Sometime later, Zerah the Ethiopian went to war against him at Mareshah with an army of one million troops and 300 chariots. | 9Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. |
| 10Asa went out to engage him in battle, and they drew up their battle lines at Mareshah in the Zephathah Valley. | 10So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. |
| 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!" | 11Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You." |
| 12So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians right in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away. | 12So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. |
| 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, | 13Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before the LORD and before His army. And they carried away very much plunder. |
| 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. | 14They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them; and they despoiled all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. |
| 15They also attacked the tents of those who owned livestock and carried off lots of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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