II Chronicles

Asa did what was good and pleasing to the ETERNAL his God.

He abolished the alien altars and shrines; he smashed the pillars and cut down the sacred posts.asacred posts Used in worship of the goddess Asherah.

He ordered Judah to turn to the ETERNAL God of their ancestors and to observe the Teaching and the Commandment.

He abolished the shrines and the incense stands throughout the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was untroubled under him.

He built fortified towns in Judah, since the land was untroubled and he was not engaged in warfare during those years, for GOD had granted him respite.

He said to Judah, “Let us build up these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars, while the land is at our disposal because we turned to the ETERNAL our God—after we did so, we were given respite on all sides.” They were successful in their building.

Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing bucklers and drawing the bow; all these were valiant warriors.

Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of a thousand thousand and 300 chariots. When he reached Mareshah

Asa confronted him, and the battle lines were drawn in the valley of Zephat by Mareshah.

Asa called to the ETERNAL his God, and said, “O ETERNAL One, it is all the same to You to help the numerous and the powerless. Help us, our ETERNAL God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this great multitude. You are the ETERNAL our God. Let no mortal hinder You.”

So GOD routed the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

Asa and the army with him pursued them as far as Gerar. Many of the Cushites fell wounded beyond recovery, for they broke before GOD’s camp.bbefore GOD’s camp Heb. “before GOD and before His camp.” Very much spoil was taken.

All the cities in the vicinity of Gerar were ravaged, for a terror of GOD seized them. All the cities were plundered, and they yielded much booty.

They also ravaged the encampment of herders, capturing much sheep, and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.