2 Chronicles 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 rested ten years.

Abijah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa, his son, became king in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

2 And Asa did that which was good and that which was right, in the eyes of Yahweh his God;

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God,

3 and took away the foreign altars, and the high places, —and brake in pieces the pillars, and cut in twain the Sacred Stems;

for he took away the foreign altars and the high places. He broke down the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.

4 and bade Judah seek Yahweh, God of their fathers, -and execute the law, and the commandment;

He commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and to carry out the law and the commandments.

5 and removed from all the cities of Judah, the high places, and the sun-images, —and the kingdom became quiet before him.

Also he took away the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under him.

6 And he built cities of defence, in Judah, —for the land had quiet, nor was there near him any war, in these years, because Yahweh had given him rest.

He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him peace.

7 Therefore said he to Judah, Let us build these cities, and let us surround them with walls and towers, doors and bars, while the land is yet before us, for we have sought Yahweh our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered.

For Asa said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and succeeded.

8 And it came to pass that, Asa, had a force bearing shield and spear, out of Judah, three hundred thousand, and, out of Benjamin, such as bare a buckler and trode a bow, two hundred and eighty thousand, —all these, were heroes of valour.

Asa had an army that carried shields and spears; from Judah he had 300,000 men, and from Benjamin, 280,000 men who carried shields and drew bows. All of these were mighty men.

9 Then came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian, with a force of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots, —and he came as far as Mareshah.

Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million soldiers and three hundred chariots; he came to Mareshah.

10 And Asa went out to meet him, —and they set in array for battle, in the valley of Zaphonah, at Mareshah.

Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle lines in order in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 Then Asa cried out unto Yahweh his God, and said, O Yahweh, it is, nothing with thee, to help whether with many or with such as have no strength. Help us, O Yahweh our God, for, on thee, do we lean, and, in thy name, have we come against this multitude, —O Yahweh! our God, thou art, let not, weak man, have power against thee.

Asa cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, “Yahweh, there is no one but you to help one who has no strength when he is facing many. Help us, Yahweh our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast number. Yahweh, you are our God; do not let man defeat you.”

12 So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians, before Asa, and before Judah, —and the Ethiopians fled.

So Yahweh struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah; the Cushites fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued as far as to Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell, so that there was no way for them to recover, for they were routed before Yahweh, and before him host, —and they carried away exceeding much spoil.

Asa and the soldiers with him pursued them to Gerar. So many Cushites fell that they could not recover, for they were completely destroyed before Yahweh and his army. The army carried away very much plunder.

14 And they smote all the cities round shout Gerar, for the dread of Yahweh was upon them, —and they plundered all the cities, for, great plunder, was there in them.

The army destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for terror of Yahweh had come on the inhabitants. The army plundered all the villages, and there was much booty in them.

15 Moreover also, the tents of the cattle, they smote, —and carried off sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

The army also destroyed the tent settlements of the shepherding nomads; they carried away sheep in abundance, as well as camels, and then they returned to Jerusalem.