14:1 And Abia died with his fathers, and
they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
In the days of Asa the land of Juda had rest ten years.
14:2 And he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his
God.
14:3 And he removed the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places,
and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves:
14:4 and he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and
to perform the law and commandments.
14:5 And he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols,
and established in quietness
14:6 fortified cities in the land of Juda; for the land was quiet, and he
had no war in these years; for the Lord gave him rest.
14:7 And he said to Juda, Let us fortify these cities, and make walls, and
towers, and gates, and bars: we shall prevail over the land, for as we have
sought out the Lord our God, he has sought out us, and has given us rest
round about, and prospered us.
14:8 And Asa had a force of armed men bearing shields and spears in the land
of Juda, [even] three hundred thousand, and in the land of Benjamin two
hundred and eighty thousand targeteers and archers: all these were mighty
warriors.
14:9 And Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a
million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa.
14:10 And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the
valley north of Maresa.
14:11 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is not
impossible with thee to save by many or by few: strengthen us, O Lord our
God; for we trust in thee, and in thy name have we come against this great
multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against thee.
14:12 And the ord smote the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians fled.
14:13 And Asa and his people pursued them to Gedor; and the Ethiopians fell,
so that they could not recover themselves; for they were crushed before the
Lord, and before his host; and they took many spoils.
14:14 And they destroyed their towns roundabout Gedor; for a terror of the
Lord was upon them: and they spoiled all their cities, for they had much
spoil.
14:15 Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took
many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem. |
14:1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and
they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
In his days the land was quiet ten years.
14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his
God:
14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places,
and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
14:4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do
the law and the commandment.
14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and
the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
14:6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had
no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
14:7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about
them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us;
because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath
given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
14:8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah
three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew
bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of
valor.
14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a
thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
14:10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the
valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing
with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help
us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this
multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.
14:12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the
Ethiopians fled.
14:13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and
the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for
they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried
away very much spoil.
14:14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the
LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was
exceeding much spoil in them.
14:15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels
in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. |