1. So Abijah 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 was quiet ten years.
2. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD 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 groves:
4. And commanded Judah to seek the LORD 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 fortified cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
7. Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make around them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land still belongs to us; 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.
8. And Asa had an army of men that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
9. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million, 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 out unto the Lord his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with those who have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we depend on you, and in your name we are going against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.
12. So the LORD struck down 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 the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14. And they struck all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they plundered all the cities; for there was exceedingly much spoil in them.
15. They struck also the tents of the cattle, and took away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
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