| 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. 2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes
of Jehovah his God: 3 for he took away the foreign altars, and the high
places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, 4 and
commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law
and the commandment. 5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah
the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he
had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest. 7 For he
said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and
towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought
Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side.
So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army that bare bucklers 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 valor. 9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian
with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came
unto Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle
in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried unto
Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help,
between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God;
for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O
Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. 12 So Jehovah
smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and
there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves;
for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried
away very much booty. 14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar;
for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities;
for there was much spoil in them. 15 They smote also the tents of cattle,
and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to
Jerusalem.
Genesis - Public
Domain
| |
