1 So Aviyah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Dawid; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of יהוה his God (Elohim).

3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods (elohim), and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and cut down the Asherahs (Asherim);

4 And commanded Judah (Yehudah) to seek יהוה God (Elohim) of their fathers, and to do the Torah and the commandment.

5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah (Yehudah) the high places and the sun-pillars; and the kingdom was quiet before him.

6 And he built fenced cities in Judah (Yehudah), for the land had rest; and he had no war in those years, because יהוה had given him rest.

7 Therefore he said unto Judah (Yehudah), “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 יהוה our God (Elohim), we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah (Yehudah) three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin (Binyamin), that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; all these were mighty men of valour.

9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian (Kushi) with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried unto יהוה his God (Elohim), and said, “יהוה, it is nothing with You to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power; help us, O יהוה our God (Elohim); for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O יהוה, You are our God (Elohim); let not man prevail against You.”

12 So יהוה smote the Ethiopians (Kushim) before Asa, and before Judah (Yehudah); and the Ethiopians (Kushim) fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar. And the Ethiopians (Kushim) were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before יהוה, and before His host; and they carried away very much spoil.

14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of יהוה came upon them; and they spoiled all the cities, for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).