SECOND CHRONICLES

2 Chronicles Chapter 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 was quiet for ten years.

2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

3 For he removed the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves:

4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to obey the law and commandments.

5 He also removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

6 And he built walled cities in Judah: but he had no war during those years, for the land had peace; because the LORD had given him peace.

7 Therefore he said to Judah, Let us fortify these cities, and build walls, and towers, gates, and bars around them, while 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.

8 And Asa had an army of men who bore shields and spears, three hundred thousand from Judah; and from Benjamin, two hundred and eighty thousand, who bore shields and drew bows: all these were mighty men of valor.

9 ¶ And there came out against Judah Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came as far as Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out against him, and they prepared for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.

12 So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and the Ethiopians were beaten, and could not counterattack; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his army; and they carried away very much spoil.

14 And they attacked all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they plundered all the cities; for there was very much plunder in them.

15 They also struck down those pasturing cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.