CHAPTER 14
Then Abijah
rested
with
his fathers
and was buried
in the City
of David.
And his son
Asa
became king
in his place.
During his reign
the land
was at peace
for ten
years.
He removed
the foreign
altars
and high places,
shattered
their sacred pillars,
and chopped down
the Asherah poles.
He commanded
the people of Judah
to seek
the LORD,
the God
of their fathers,
and to observe
the law
and the commandments.
He also removed
the high places
and the incense altars
from all
the cities
of Judah,
and under him
the kingdom
was at peace.
Because
the land
was at peace,
Asa built
fortified
cities
in Judah.
In those
days
no one
made war
with him,
because
the LORD
gave him rest.
So he said
to the people of Judah,
“Let us build
these
cities
and surround
them with walls
and towers,
with doors
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.
Asa
had
an army
of 300,000 men
from Judah
bearing
large shields
and spears,
and 280,000 men
from Benjamin
bearing
small shields
and drawing
the bow.
All
these were
mighty warriors.
Then Zerah
the Cushite
came
against them
with an army
of 1,000,000 men
and 300
chariots,
and they advanced
as far as
Mareshah.
So Asa
marched out
against
him and lined up
in battle formation
in the Valley of Zephathah
near Mareshah.
Then Asa
cried out
to
the LORD
his God:
“O LORD,
there is no one
besides You
to help
the powerless
against the mighty.
Help us,
O LORD
our God,
for
we rely
on You,
and in Your name
we have come
against
this
multitude.
O LORD,
You
are our God.
Do not
let a mere mortal
prevail
against You."
Then Asa
and his army
pursued them
as far as
Gerar.
The Cushites
fell
and could not
recover,
for
they were crushed
before
the LORD
and His army.
So the people of Judah carried off
a great amount of
plunder
and attacked
all
the cities
around
Gerar,
because
the terror
of the LORD
had fallen
upon them.
They plundered
all
the cities,
since
there was
much
plunder
there.
They also
attacked
the tents
of the herdsmen
and carried off
many
sheep
and camels.
Then they returned
to Jerusalem.