2 Chronicles Chapter 14
So Abijah passed away and was laid to rest with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Asa took over the throne. For a solid decade, things were chill.
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.
Out here, Asa was doing what was right and solid in the eyes of the Lord, no cap.
And Asa did {that which was} good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
He ditched the altars of the sus gods, smashed the high places, and took down the idols. Those were some savage moves.
For he took away the altars of the strange {gods}, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: {images: Heb. statues}
He urged Judah to seek the Lord God of their families and to follow His laws.
And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
Asa also cleaned up all the high places and idols from Judah's cities. The kingdom was vibing under his reign.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. {images: Heb. sun images}
He fortified cities in Judah since the land was peaceful, and there was no drama; the Lord had blessed him with that vibe.
And 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.
Asa was like, "Yo Judah, let’s build these cities and set up walls, towers, gates, and bars while the land is still ours; we’ve been seeking the Lord, and He’s given us peace." So they built and thrived.
Therefore 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.
Asa had a lit army: 300k men from Judah armed with targets and spears, and 280k from Benjamin with shields and bows. These guys were goated warriors.
And 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.
Then Zerah the Ethiopian showed up with a massive army of a million and 300 chariots, heading to Mareshah.
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
Asa went out to face him, and they set the stage for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
Asa called out to the Lord his God, saying, "Lord, it’s nothing for you to help, no matter if we’re many or weak: help us, O Lord our God; we’re counting on you, and in your name, we face this squad. You’re our God; don’t let any man take you down."
And 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. {man: or, mortal man}
So the Lord wrecked the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah; the Ethiopians bounced.
So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
Asa and his crew chased them to Gerar, and the Ethiopians were wrecked, couldn’t recover; they were destroyed before the Lord and His army, and they took a ton of loot.
And 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. {destroyed: Heb. broken}
They smashed all the cities around Gerar because the fear of the Lord hit them; they looted all those cities since there was mad spoil.
And 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.
They also grabbed livestock tents, snagged sheep and camels in abundance, and bounced back to Jerusalem.
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.