2 Chronicles 14

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.

1Abijah died like his fathers before him. They buried him in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. While Asa was king, the land had peace for ten years.

Note"Slept with his fathers" was an old way of saying someone died. "The city of David" is another name for Jerusalem.

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

2Asa did what was good and right. He pleased the LORD his God.

3For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

3He took away the altars built for other gods. He took away the worship places on the hills. He smashed the stone pillars people prayed to. He chopped down the wooden poles used to worship the goddess Asherah.

NoteThe KJV calls them "groves," but they were not real groves of trees. They were tall wooden poles set up to honor a goddess named Asherah.

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

4He told the people of Judah to look for the LORD, the God of their fathers. He told them to obey God's law and rules.

5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

5He also took the hilltop worship places and incense altars out of every city in Judah. So the kingdom was peaceful while he ruled.

6And 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.

6Asa built cities with strong walls in Judah. The land was resting. No one made war with him in those years. This was because the LORD had given him rest.

7Therefore 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.

7So Asa said to the people of Judah, "Let us build these cities. Let us put walls and towers around them. Let us add gates and bars. The land is still ours. We have looked for the LORD our God. We looked for him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built the cities, and things went well.

8And 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.

8Asa had an army of brave, strong men. From Judah there were 300,000 men with big shields and spears. From Benjamin there were 280,000 men with small shields and bows.

9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

9Then Zerah, a man from Cush, came to fight them. He had an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They came as far as the town of Mareshah.

NoteThe KJV says "Ethiopian," but the land meant here is Cush, which was south of Egypt. It is not the same as the country called Ethiopia today. "A thousand thousand" means a million.

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

10So Asa marched out to meet him. Both armies lined up to fight in the Valley of Zephathah, near Mareshah.

11And 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 not man prevail against thee.

11Asa called out to the LORD his God. He said, "LORD, only you can help weak people against strong ones. Help us, LORD our God. We are leaning on you. We come against this huge army in your name. LORD, you are our God. Do not let any man win against you."

Note"Let not man prevail" means "do not let any person win." In 1611 English, "prevail" meant to win or come out on top.

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

12So the LORD struck down the army from Cush in front of Asa and Judah. The men from Cush ran away.

13And 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.

13Asa and his men chased them all the way to the town of Gerar. So many of the men from Cush fell that their army could not fight again. They were crushed before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried off a great many things the enemy left behind.

14And 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.

14They also attacked all the towns around Gerar. The people there were very afraid of the LORD. Judah's men took the goods from all those towns, because there was so much to take.

15They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

15They also attacked the camps where herders kept their animals. They took away many sheep and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.