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 ten years.
14:2 And Asa did [that which was] good and right in the eyes of
the LORD his God:
14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange [gods], and the
high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the
groves:
14:4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers,
and to do the law and the commandment.
14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high
places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
14:6 And he built fortified cities in Judah: for the land had
rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had
given him rest.
14:7 Therefore he said to 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.
14:8 And Asa had an army [of men] that bore targets and spears,
out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that
bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand:
all these [were] mighty men of valor.
14:9 And there came out against them Zerah the Cushite, with a
host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and
came to Mareshah.
14:10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in
array in the valley of Zephathath at Mareshah.
14:11 And Asa cried to 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 not man prevail against thee.
14:12 So the LORD smote the Cushites before Asa, and before
Judah; and the Cushites fled.
14:13 And Asa and the people that [were] with him pursued them
to Gerar: and the Cushites 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.
14:14 And they smote all the cities about Gerar; for the fear of
the LORD came upon them: and they plundered all the cities; for
there was exceeding much spoil in them.
14:15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away
sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
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