[1] So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of
David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet
ten years. [2] Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh
his God: [3] for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and
broke down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, [4] and commanded Judah
to seek Yahweh, the 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 sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. [6] He
built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war
in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest. [7] For he said to
Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers,
gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh
our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So
they built and prospered. [8] Asa had an army that bore bucklers and
spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore
shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty
men of valor. [9] There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an
army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to
Mareshah. [10] Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in
array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. [11] Asa cried to Yahweh his
God, and said, Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the
mighty and him who has no strength: help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on
you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are
our God; don`t let man prevail against you. [12] So Yahweh struck the
Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. [13] Asa
and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of
the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they
were destroyed before Yahweh, and before his host; and they carried away
very much booty. [14] They struck all the cities round about Gerar; for the
fear of Yahweh came on them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there
was much spoil in them. [15] They struck also the tents of cattle, and
carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.