1 Asa did what was good and right from the perspective ofAdonaihis God;
2 for he removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashing the standing-stones and chopping down the sacred poles.
3 He ordered Y’hudah to seekAdonai, the God of their ancestors, and to obey theTorahand themitzvah.
4 He removed the high places and pillars for sun-worship from all the cities of Y’hudah, and under him the kingdom was quiet.
5 Because the land was quiet, and he had no war during those years, sinceAdonaihad given him rest, he built fortified cities in Y’hudah.
6 “Let’s build these cities,” he said to Y’hudah; “we’ll surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars. The land is there for us to use, because we have soughtAdonaiour God; we have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered.
7 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Y’hudah, equipped with shields and spears, and another 280,000 from Binyamin, with shields and bows; all were brave, strong men.
8 Zerach the Ethiopian came out to attack them with an army of one million and three hundred chariots. When he arrived at Mareshah,
9 Asa went out to fight him, and the forces were arranged for battle in the Tz’fat Valley at Mareshah.
10 Asa cried out toAdonaihis God, “Adonai, there is no one besides yourself, strong or weak, who can help. Help us,Adonaiour God, because we are relying on you, and we are coming against this vast throng in your name. You areAdonaiour God; don’t let human beings stop you!”
11 SoAdonaistruck the Ethiopians before Asa and Y’hudah, and the Ethiopians fled.
12 Asa and the army with him pursued them to G’rar, and the Ethiopians were defeated beyond recovery; they were shattered beforeAdonaiand his army, who carried off much spoil.
13 Then they attacked all the cities in the vicinity of G’rar, for a panic fromAdonaihad overcome them. They plundered all the cities, for they were full of spoil.
14 They also attacked the tents of those tending the livestock and carried off sheep and camels in abundance. Then they returned to Yerushalayim.