| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. | 2 Asa practiced what the LORD his God considered to be right |
| 3He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim | 3by removing the foreign altars and high places, tearing down the sacred pillars, cutting down the Asherim, and |
| 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. | 4commanding Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to keep 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 of the cities of Judah. As a result, the kingdom enjoyed rest under Asa's leadership. |
| 6He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. | 9Sometime later, Zerah the Ethiopian went to war against him at Mareshah with an army of one million troops and 300 chariots. |
| 10And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10Asa went out to engage him in battle, and they drew up their battle lines at Mareshah in the Zephathah Valley. |
| 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.” | 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!" |
| 12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. | 12So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians right in front of Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away. |
| 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. | 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 those who owned livestock and carried off lots of 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 Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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