⁷ “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest^(A) on every side.” So they built and prospered.

⁸ Asa had an army of three hundred thousand^(B) men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men.

⁹ Zerah the Cushite^(C) marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.^{(D) 10} Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

¹¹ Then Asa called^(E) to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us,^(F) Lord our God, for we rely^(G) on you, and in your name^(H) we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail^(I) against you.”