Asa Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:9–15)
1 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.
2 AKJV And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: BSB BSB: And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
3 AKJV For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves: BSB BSB: He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.
4 AKJV And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. BSB BSB: He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.
5 AKJV Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. BSB BSB: He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.
6 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.
7 AKJV Therefore he said to 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 has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. BSB BSB: So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours 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 AKJV And Asa had an army of men that bore targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor. BSB BSB: Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.
9 AKJV And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah. BSB BSB: Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.
10 AKJV Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. BSB BSB: So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
11 AKJV And Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let no man prevail against you. BSB BSB: Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. 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. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”
12 AKJV So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. BSB BSB: So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.
13 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder
14 AKJV And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came on them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. BSB BSB: and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there.
15 AKJV They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. BSB BSB: They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
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