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.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the
LORD his God:
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:
4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and
to do the law and the commandment.
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.
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.
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.
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 valour.
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.
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in
array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
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.
12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah;
and the Ethiopians fled.
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 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.
15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep
and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
|
