Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah
(1 Kings 15:9-15)
1So Abijahsleptwith his fathers,and they buriedhim in the cityof David:and Asahis sonreignedin his stead. In his daysthe landwas quiettenyears.
2And Asadid[that which was] goodand rightin the eyesof the LORDhis God:3For he took awaythe altarsof the strange[gods], and the high places,and brake downthe images,and cut downthe groves:4And commandedJudahto seekthe LORDGodof their fathers,and to dothe lawand the commandment.5Also he took awayout of all the citiesof Judahthe high placesand the images:and the kingdomwas quietbeforehim.6And he builtfencedcitiesin Judah:for the landhad rest,and he had no warin those years;because the LORDhad given him rest.7Therefore he saidunto Judah,Let us buildthese cities,and make about[them] walls,and towers,gates,and bars,[while] the land[is] yet beforeus; because we have soughtthe LORDour God,we have sought[him], and he hath given us reston every side.So they builtand prospered.8And Asahad an army[of men] that baretargetsand spears,out of Judahthreehundredthousand;and out of Benjamin,that bareshieldsand drewbows,two hundredand fourscorethousand:all these [were] mighty menof valour.
9And there came outagainst them Zerahthe Ethiopianwith an hostof a thousandthousand,and threehundredchariots;and cameunto Mareshah.10Then Asawent outagainsthim, and they set the battlein arrayin the valleyof Zephathahat Mareshah.11And Asacriedunto the LORDhis God,and said,LORD,[it is] nothing with thee to help,whetherwith many,or with them that have no power:helpus, O LORDour God;for we reston thee, and in thy namewe goagainst this multitude.O LORD,thou [art] our God;let not manprevailagainst thee.12So the LORDsmotethe EthiopiansbeforeAsa,and beforeJudah;and the Ethiopiansfled.13And Asaand the peoplethat [were] with him pursuedthem unto Gerar:and the Ethiopianswere overthrown,that they could not recoverthemselves; for they were destroyedbeforethe LORD,and beforehis host;and they carried awayverymuchspoil.14And they smoteall the citiesround aboutGerar;for the fearof the LORDcame upon them: and they spoiledall the cities;for there was exceeding muchspoilin them.15They smotealso the tentsof cattle,and carried awaysheepand camelsin abundance,and returnedto Jerusalem.
