| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2Asa did what the LORD his God desired and approved. | 2Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, |
| 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. | 3for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, |
| 4He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands. | 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. |
| 5He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule. | 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 9Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah, | 9Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. |
| 10and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. | 10So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. |
| 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!" | 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." |
| 12The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, | 12So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then 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. |
| NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | 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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