Asa Reigns in Judah
And Abijah lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
And Asa did the good and the upright in the eyes of the LORD his God.
And he removed the foreign altars and the high places, and shattered the standing stones, and cut down the Asherah poles;
and he said to Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the instruction and the commandment.
And he removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars; and the kingdom was quiet before him.
And he built fortified cities in Judah — for the land was quiet, and there was no war with him in those years, for the LORD had given him rest.
And he said to Judah: “Let us build these cities, and surround them with wall and towers, doors and bars, while the land is still before us — for we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought, and he has given us rest all around.” And they built and succeeded.
And Asa had a force carrying shield and spear: from Judah, three hundred thousand; and from Benjamin, carrying shield and drawing bow, two hundred and eighty thousand — all these mighty men of valor.
And Zerah the Cushite came out against them with a force of a thousand thousands, and three hundred chariots; and he came as far as Mareshah.
And Asa went out before him; and they arrayed battle in the Valley of Zephathah, at Mareshah.
And Asa called to the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, there is none besides you to help, between the many and the powerless. Help us, LORD our God — for on you we lean, and in your name we have come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God; let no mortal retain strength against you.”
And the LORD struck the Cushites before Asa and before Judah; and the Cushites fled.
And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and there fell of the Cushites so many that there was no reviving for them — for they were shattered before the LORD and before his camp. And they carried off very much plunder.
And they struck all the cities around Gerar — for the dread of the LORD had come upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.
And they also struck the tents of the herdsmen, and carried off sheep in abundance, and camels; and they returned to Jerusalem.