| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1 Then Abijah died, as had his ancestors, and he was buried in the City of David. Abijah's son Asa reigned in his place, and during his lifetime the land enjoyed rest for ten years. | 1Abijah passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa replaced him as king. During his reign the land had rest for ten years. |
| 2 Asa practiced what the LORD his God considered to be right | 2Asa did what the LORD his God desired and approved. |
| 3by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down the sacred pillars, cutting down the Asherim, and | 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. |
| 4commanding Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to keep the Law and the commandments. | 4He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands. |
| 5He also removed the high places and incense altars from all of the cities of Judah. As a result, the kingdom enjoyed rest under Asa's leadership. | 5He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule. |
| 6Asa built fortified cities throughout Judah while the land lay undisturbed, because the LORD had given him peace so that no one went to war against him during those years. | 6He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the LORD gave him peace. |
| 7He had told Judah, "Let's build up these cities, surrounding them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land still belongs to us, because we have kept on seeking the LORD our God. We have sought him out, and he has given us rest all around us." So the people built and prospered. | 7He said to the people of Judah: "Let's build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. The land remains ours because we have followed the LORD our God and he has made us secure on all sides." So they built the cities and prospered. |
| 8Asa kept a standing army of 300,000 soldiers from Judah equipped with large shields and spears, as well as 280,000 soldiers from Benjamin, also bearing shields and wielding bows. All of them were valiant soldiers. | 8Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin who carried small shields and were adept archers; they were all skilled warriors. |
| 9Sometime later, Zerah the Ethiopian went to war against him at Mareshah with an army of one million troops and 300 chariots. | 9Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah, |
| 10Asa went out to engage him in battle, and they drew up their battle lines at Mareshah in the Zephathah Valley. | 10and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. |
| 11Asa cried out to the LORD his God, telling him, "LORD, there is no one except for you to help between the powerful and the weak. So help us, LORD God, because we're depending on you and have come against this vast group in your name. LORD, you are our God. Let no mere mortal man defeat you!" | 11Asa prayed to the LORD his God: "O LORD, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O LORD our God, don't let men prevail against you!" |
| 12So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians right in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away. | 12The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, |
| 13Asa and his army pursued the Ethiopians as far as Gerar. So many Ethiopians died that their army could not recover, because it had been shattered in the LORD's presence and in the presence of his army. The Israelis carried off a lot of plunder, too, | 13and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; they were shattered before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried off a huge amount of plunder. |
| 14They attacked all the cities that surrounded Gerar, because fear of the LORD had overwhelmed them. The Israelis spoiled all the cities, because there was a lot to plunder in them. | 14They defeated all the cities surrounding Gerar, for the LORD caused them to panic. The men of Judah looted all the cities, for they contained a huge amount of goods. |
| 15They also attacked the tents of those who owned livestock and carried off lots of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem. |
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