Asa Reigns in Judah
(1 Kings 15:9–15)

1And Abijah rested 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.

2And Asa did the good and the right in the eyes of YHWH his God, 3and he turned aside the altars of the stranger and the high places, and he broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherah poles, 4and He commanded Judah to seek YHWH, God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. 5And He removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars; and the kingdom was quiet under him.

6And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest, and there was not war with him in these years, because YHWH had given rest to him. 7And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make around them walls and towers, doors and bars, while the land is before our face, because we have sought YHWH our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” And they built and prospered.

8And there was unto Asa a force bearing shields and spears: From Judah three hundred thousand, and from Benjamin, men who carried shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand. All these were mighty men of valor.

9And came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousands,† and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. 10And Asa went out against him for battle, and they arrayed in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.†

11And Asa cried out to YHWH his God and said, “O YHWH, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with no power. Help us, O YHWH our God, for on You we rest, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O YHWH, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You.”

12And YHWH struck the Cushites before Asa, and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. 13And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as to Gerar, and there fell the Cushites, and there was no preservation for them, for they were broken before YHWH and His army. And they carried away exceedingly much plunder. 14And they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of YHWH came upon them, and they plundered all the cities. For there was much spoil in them. 15And also they struck the tents of the livestock, and they carried off sheep in abundance, and camels, and they returned to Jerusalem.