| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years. | 1And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. |
| 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. | 2Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. |
| 3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. | 3He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. |
| 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. | 4He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. |
| 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace. | 5He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. |
| 6Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest. | 6He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest. |
| 7So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. | 7"Let us build up these towns," he said to Judah, "and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, 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. |
| 8Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor. | 8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men. |
| 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah. | 9Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. |
| 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. | 10Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. |
| 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.” | 11Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you." |
| 12So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. | 12The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, |
| 13Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder | 13and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the LORD and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder. |
| 14and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there. | 14They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror of the LORD had fallen on them. They looted all these villages, since there was much plunder there. |
| 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the camps of the herders and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
|
