Dual Panel1Abijah <029> passed away <01> <05973> <07901> and was buried <06912> in the City <05892> of David <01732>. His son <01121> Asa <0609> replaced <08478> him as king <04427>. During <03117> his reign the land <0776> had rest <08252> for ten <06235> years <08141>.
2Asa <0609> did <06213> what the Lord <03068> his God <0430> desired <02896> and approved <05869> <03477>.
3He removed <05493> the pagan <05236> altars <04196> and the high places <01116>, smashed <07665> the sacred pillars <04676>, and cut down <01438> the Asherah poles <0842>.
4He ordered <0559> Judah <03063> to seek <01875> the Lord <03068> God <0430> of their ancestors <01> and to observe <06213> his law <08451> and commands <04687>.
5He removed <05493> the high places <01116> and the incense altars <02553> from all <03605> the cities <05892> of Judah <03063>. The kingdom <04467> had rest <08252> under <06440> his rule <06440>.
6He built <01129> fortified <04694> cities <05892> throughout Judah <03063>, for <03588> the land <0776> was at rest <08252> and there was no <0369> war <04421> during those <0428> years <08141>; the Lord <03068> gave <05117> him peace <05117>.
7He said <0559> to the people of Judah <03063>: “Let’s build <01129> these <0428> cities <05892> and fortify <05437> them with walls <02346>, towers <04026>, and barred <01280> gates <01817>. The land <0776> remains <05750> ours because <03588> we have followed <01875> the Lord <03068> our God <0430> and he has made <01875> us secure <05117> on all sides <05439>.” So they built <01129> the cities and prospered <06743>.
8Asa <0609> had <01961> an army <02428> of 300,000 <0505> <03967> <07969> men from Judah <03063>, equipped <05375> with large shields <06793> and spears <07420>. He also had 280,000 <0505> <08084> <03967> men from Benjamin <01144> who carried <05375> small shields <04043> and were adept <01869> archers <07198>; they <0428> were all <03605> skilled <02428> warriors <01368>.
9Zerah <02226> the Cushite <03569> marched <03318> against <0413> them with an army <02428> of 1,000,000 <0505> <0505> men and 300 <03967> <07969> chariots <04818>. He arrived <0935> at <05704> Mareshah <04762>,
10and Asa <0609> went out <03318> to oppose <06440> him. They deployed <06186> for battle <04421> in the Valley <01516> of Zephathah <06859> near Mareshah <04762>.
11Asa <0609> prayed <07121> to <0413> the Lord <03068> his God <0430>: “O Lord <03068>, there is no one <0369> but <05973> you who can help <05826> the weak when <0996> they are vastly <07227> outnumbered <03581> <0369>. Help <05826> us, O Lord <03068> our God <0430>, for <03588> we rely <08172> on <05921> you and have marched <0935> on your behalf <08034> against <05921> this <02088> huge <01995> army. O Lord <03068> our God <0430>, don’t <0408> let men <0582> prevail <06113> against <05973> you <0859>!”
12The Lord <03069> struck down <05062> the Cushites <03569> before <06440> Asa <0609> and Judah <03063>. The Cushites <03569> fled <05127>,
13and Asa <0609> and his army <05971> chased <07291> them as far as <05704> Gerar <01642>. The Cushites <03569> were wiped out <05307>; they <01992> were shattered <07665> before <06440> the Lord <03068> and his army <04264>. The men of Judah carried off <05375> a huge amount <03966> <07235> of plunder <07998>.
14They defeated <05221> all <03605> the cities <05892> surrounding <05439> Gerar <01642>, for <03588> the Lord <03068> caused <01961> them to panic <06343>. The men of Judah looted <0962> all <03605> the cities <05892>, for <03588> they contained a huge amount <07227> of goods <0961>.
15They also <01571> attacked <05221> the tents <0168> of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock <04735>. They carried off <07617> many <07230> sheep <06629> and camels <01581> and then returned <07725> to Jerusalem <03389>.