1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned instead of him. 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 altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the Asherah poles:
4 And commanded Judah to seek Jehovah 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 images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because Jehovah had given him rest.
7 Therefore he said to 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 Jehovah our God, we have sought Him, and he has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8 And Asa had an army of men that carried targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that carried shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
9 And some came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah.
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried to Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power: help us, oh, Jehovah, our God; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. Oh Jehovah, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.
12 So Jehovah struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14 And they struck all the cities on every side of Gerar; for the reverence of Jehovah came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15 They struck also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.