Study Desk

and said for Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

So Asa went out to meet him, and they arranged themselves for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Then Asa called to Yahweh his God and said, "Yahweh, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between those of abundant power and those who have no power; so help us, O Yahweh our God, for we lean on You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Yahweh, You are our God; let not mortal man prevail against You."

And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before Yahweh and before His army. And they carried away very much spoil.

And they struck down all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of Yahweh had fallen on them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

Now for many days Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest and without law.

But in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and they searched for Him, and He was found by them.

Now in those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for much confusion was upon all the inhabitants of the lands.

And nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God threw them into confusion with every kind of distress.

But you, be strong and do not let your hands fall limp, for there is reward for your work."

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin and those from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who sojourned with them, for many defected to him from Israel when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.

All Judah was glad concerning the oath, for they had sworn with their whole heart and had searched for Him with all their desire, and He was found by them. So Yahweh gave them rest on every side.

For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is wholly devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."

Then Asa was vexed with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

And they buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the city of David, and they laid him in the resting place which he had filled with spices of various kinds blended by the perfumers' art; and they made a very great fire for him.

and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for Yahweh, and with him 200,000 mighty men of valor;

and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 armed for military duty.

And some years later he went down to Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab sacrificed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and incited him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh."

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king."