Asa Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:9–15)
1 CPDV Then Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. And his son, Asa, reigned in his place. During his days, the land was quiet for 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 CPDV Now Asa did what was good and pleasing in the sight of his God. And he overturned the altars of foreign worship, and the high places. BSB BSB: And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
3 CPDV And he broke apart the statues, and he cut down the sacred groves. BSB BSB: He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.
4 CPDV And he instructed Judah that they should seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and that they should carry out the law and all the commandments. 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 CPDV And he took away, from all the cities of Judah, the altars and the shrines. And he reigned in peace. 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 CPDV Also, he built fortified cities in Judah. For it was quiet, and in his time no wars had arisen. For the Lord was generously granting peace. 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 CPDV Then he said to Judah: “Let us build these cities, and strengthen them with walls, and fortify them with towers and gates and bars, while all things are at rest from wars. For we have sought the Lord, the God of our fathers, and he has granted to us peace on every side.” And so they built, and there was nothing to impede them from building. 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 CPDV Now Asa had in his army three hundred thousand men of Judah, carrying shields and spears, and truly, of Benjamin, two hundred eighty thousand men with shields and bows. All of these were very valiant men. 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 CPDV Then Zerah, the Ethiopian, went forth against them with his army of one million men, and three hundred chariots. And he approached as far as 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 CPDV And Asa traveled to meet him, and he set up a battle line for the war in the Valley of Zephathah, which is near Mareshah. BSB BSB: So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
11 CPDV And he called upon the Lord God, and he said: “O Lord, there is no difference to you, whether you assist by few, or by many. Help us, O Lord our God. For having faith in you and in your name, we have gone forth against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God. Do not allow man to 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 CPDV And so the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah. And the Ethiopians fled. BSB BSB: So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.
13 CPDV And Asa, and the people who were with him, pursued them as far as Gerar. And the Ethiopians fell, even unto utter destruction, for the Lord was striking, and his army was battling, and they were destroyed. Therefore, they took many spoils. 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 CPDV And they struck all the cities surrounding Gerar. For indeed, a great fear had overwhelmed everyone. And they despoiled the cities, and they carried away much plunder. 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 CPDV Then too, destroying the fencing for the sheep, they took an innumerable multitude of cattle and camels. And they 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.