Study Desk

So Abijah lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days.

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.

And Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God,

And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:

for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the memorial stones, cut down the Asherim,

For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to comply with the Law and the commandment.

And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him.

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

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.

For he said to Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates 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.

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.

Now Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah, carrying large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, carrying shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors.

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.

Now Zerah the Ethiopian went out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; help us, LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You."

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.

So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

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 the LORD and before His army. And they carried away a very large amount of plunder.

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.

They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them; and they pillaged all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

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.

They also fatally struck those who owned livestock, and they led away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.