| English Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. | 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. |
| 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. | 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. |
| 3He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim | 3He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. |
| 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. | 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. |
| 5He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. | 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace. |
| 6He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. | 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. |
| 7And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. | 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. |
| 8And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor. | 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. |
| 9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. | 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. |
| 10And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. |
| 11And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. 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; let not man prevail against you.” | 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.” |
| 12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. | 12So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. |
| 13Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil. | 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 |
| 14And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. | 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. |
| 15And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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