Asa Reigns in Judah (1 Kings 15:9–15)
1 UEB Abijah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa, his son, became king in his place. 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 UEB Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, BSB BSB: And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
3 UEB for he took away the foreign altars and the high places. He broke down the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. BSB BSB: He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.
4 UEB He commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and to carry out the law and 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 UEB Also he took away the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under 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 UEB He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him 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 UEB For Asa said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and succeeded. 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 UEB Asa had an army that carried shields and spears; from Judah he had 300,000 men, and from Benjamin, 280,000 men who carried shields and drew bows. All of these were mighty 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 UEB Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million soldiers and three hundred chariots; he 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 UEB Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle lines in order 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 UEB Asa cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is no one but you to help one who has no strength when he is facing many. Help us, Yahweh our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast number. Yahweh, you are our God; do not let man defeat 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 UEB So Yahweh struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah; the Cushites fled. BSB BSB: So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.
13 UEB Asa and the soldiers with him pursued them to Gerar. So many Cushites fell that they could not recover, for they were completely destroyed before Yahweh and his army. The army carried away very much plunder. 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 UEB The army destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for terror of Yahweh had come on the inhabitants. The army plundered all the villages, and there was much booty 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 UEB The army also destroyed the tent settlements of the shepherding nomads; they carried away sheep in abundance, as well as camels, and then 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.