The Shared Word Translation · Study & Discuss
2 Chronicles 14
Asa Does What Is Good
Abijah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa his son became king in his place. In his days the land had rest ten years. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, shattered the pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to do the instruction and the commandment. He removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest before him.
Asa Fortifies Judah
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. He said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still before us because we have sought the LORD our God. We sought him, and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah carrying large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin carrying small shields and drawing bows. All these were mighty warriors.
Zerah the Cushite Invades
Zerah the Cushite came out against them with an army of one million and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah. Asa went out against him, and they drew up battle lines in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. Asa cried to the LORD his God and said, “O LORD, there is none besides you to help between the mighty and the one with no strength. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely upon you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let no human being prevail against you.”
The LORD Gives Judah Victory
So the LORD struck the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. So many Cushites fell that none remained alive, for they were shattered before the LORD and before his army. They carried away very much spoil. They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the terror of the LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. They also struck the tents of the livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.