1a1So Abijahslept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his sonAsabecameking in his place. The land was undisturbed for tenyears during his days.
2bAsadidgood and right in the sight of the LORD his God,
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for he removed2the foreignaltars and 3highplaces, toredown the sacred pillars, cutdown the c4Asherim,
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and commandedJudah to seek the LORDGod of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment.
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He also removed the highplaces and the 5incensealtars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbedunder him.
66He builtfortifiedcities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and dthere was noone at war with him during thoseyears, 7because the LORD had given him rest.
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For he said to Judah, "8Let us buildthesecities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is stilleoursbecause we have sought the LORD our God ; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on everyside." So they built and prospered.
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Now Asahad an army of 9300,000 from Judah, bearinglargeshields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearingshields and wieldingbows ; all of them were valiantwarriors.
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Now Zerah the Ethiopian10came out against them with an army of a million men and 300chariots, and he came to 11Mareshah.
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So Asawent out fto meet him, and they drew up in battleformation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
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Then Asa12called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is noonebesides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who havenostrength ; so help us, O LORD our God, 13for we trust in You, and in Your name have comeagainstthismultitude. O LORD, You are our God ; let not manprevailagainst You."
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So 14the LORDgrouted the EthiopiansbeforeAsa and beforeJudah, and the Ethiopiansfled.
13Asa and the peoplewho were with him pursued them as far as 15Gerar ; and so many Ethiopiansfell that hthey could not recover, for they were shatteredbefore the LORD and before His army. And they carried away verymuchplunder.
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They idestroyedall the citiesaroundGerar, 16for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them; and they despoiledall the cities, for there was muchplunder in them.
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They alsostruckdownjthose who ownedlivestock, and they carried away largenumbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
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