2 Chronicles 14

So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

Abijah joined his ancestors in eternal rest, laid to peace in the city of David. His son, Asa, took his place as ruler. Under Asa's reign, the land enjoyed a decade of serene tranquility.

And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

Asa acted with kindness and justice, pleasing to the heart of his God.

For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

He courageously removed the altars of foreign gods, destroyed their high places, shattered their idols, and cut down their sacred groves.

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

He urged Judah to passionately seek their ancestral God, and to faithfully follow His laws and commands.

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

He removed all idols and sacred sites from the cities of Judah, bringing peace and tranquility to his kingdom.

And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

He created secure towns across Judah, a time of peace graced the land. There were no battles, for God had blessed him with tranquility.

Therefore he said unto 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 the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

He told Judah, "Let's construct these cities, fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars, while we still have the land. We've sought our God, and He's granted us peace everywhere." So, they built and thrived.

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.

Asa commanded a vast army; three hundred thousand brave men from Judah, armed with shields and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand courageous warriors from Benjamin, skilled in archery. All of them were valiant heroes.

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

Zerah the Ethiopian, leading an overwhelming army of a million soldiers and three hundred chariots, fiercely advanced towards Mareshah.

Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Asa bravely faced his enemy, preparing for battle in the valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.

In desperation, Asa called out to God, pleading, "God, you are all-powerful. You can help anyone, whether they are strong or weak. We need you, God. We rely on you and in your name, we face these overwhelming odds. You are our God; don't let anyone overpower you."

So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

With a surge of divine power, the LORD struck down the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and Judah, instilling such fear that they turned and ran.

And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto 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.

Asa and his followers chased their enemies to Gerar. The Ethiopians were defeated so badly, they couldn't regain their strength. They were utterly crushed by the power of the Lord and His forces. As a result, Asa's people took away a great amount of their wealth.

And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

They conquered all the cities surrounding Gerar, for terror of the Lord had fallen on the people there. They looted these cities, which were overflowing with riches.

They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

They fiercely attacked the livestock shelters, taking away countless sheep and camels, before triumphantly returning to Jerusalem.