1So 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.
2And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
3For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:images: Heb. statues
4And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.images: Heb. sun images
6And 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.
7Therefore he said unto 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 hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.
9Dan Zerah orang Etiopia, muncul untuk menentang mereka dengan angkatan berbilangan seribu seribu orang, dan dengan tiga ratus kereta kuda; dan datang ke Maresa.
10Kemudian Asa maju menentangnya, dan mereka mengatur barisan pertempuran di lembah Zefata di Maresa.
11Dan Asa berseru kepada TUHAN Allahnya, dan berkata, TUHAN, ia tidak sukar bagimu untuk menolong, sama ada bilangannya besar ataupun dengan orang yang tiada kuasa: tolonglah kami, ya TUHAN Allah kami; sebab kami berdiam di dalammu, dan dalam namamu kami maju terhadap bilangan besar itu. Ya TUHAN, engkaulah Allah kami; jangan biar manusia menang ke atasmu.
12Jadi TUHAN memukul kalah orang Etiopia di hadapan Asa, dan di hadapan Yehuda; dan orang Etiopia melarikan diri.
13Dan Asa dan angkatan yang ada bersamanya mengejar mereka sampai Gerar: dan orang Etiopia ditunggangbalikkan, sehingga mereka tidak dapat memulihkan diri mereka; sebab mereka dibinasakan di hadapan TUHAN, dan di hadapan angkatannya; dan mereka membawa pulang sungguh banyak jarahan.
14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.