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2 Chronicles 14
New International Version
2 Chronicles 14
New International Version
14 [a]And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years.
Asa King of Judah(A)
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.(B) 3 He removed the foreign altars(C) and the high places, smashed the sacred stones(D) and cut down the Asherah poles.[b](E) 4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord,(F) the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. 5 He removed the high places(G) and incense altars(H) in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest.(I)
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(J) on every side.” So they built and prospered.
8 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand(K) 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(L) marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.(M) 10 Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
11 Then Asa called(N) to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us,(O) Lord our God, for we rely(P) on you, and in your name(Q) we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail(R) against you.”
12 The Lord struck down(S) the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, 13 and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar.(T) Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed(U) before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder.(V) 14 They destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for the terror(W) of the Lord had fallen on them. They looted all these villages, since there was much plunder there. 15 They also attacked the camps of the herders and carried off droves of sheep and goats and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 14:1 In Hebrew texts 14:1 is numbered 13:23, and 14:2-15 is numbered 14:1-14.
- 2 Chronicles 14:3 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 14
English Standard Version
2 Chronicles 14
English Standard Version
Asa Reigns in Judah
14 [a] (A)Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. 2 [b] And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He took away the foreign altars (B)and the high places and broke down (C)the pillars and cut down the (D)Asherim 4 and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. 5 He also took out of all the cities of Judah (E)the high places and the (F)incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. 6 He built (G)fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, (H)for the Lord gave him peace. 7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with (I)walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God. We have sought him, (J)and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. 8 And Asa had an army of (K)300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.
9 Zerah (L)the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as (M)Mareshah. 10 And Asa went out to meet him, and (N)they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at (O)Mareshah. 11 And Asa (P)cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, (Q)for we rely on you, (R)and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” 12 (S)So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as (T)Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the Lord and his army. The men of Judah[c] carried away very much spoil. 14 And they attacked all the cities around (U)Gerar, (V)for the fear of the Lord was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 15 And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 14:1 Ch 13:23 in Hebrew
- 2 Chronicles 14:2 Ch 14:1 in Hebrew
- 2 Chronicles 14:13 Hebrew They
2 Chronicles 14
1599 Geneva Bible
2 Chronicles 14
1599 Geneva Bible
14 3 Asa destroyeth idolatry, and commandeth his people to serve the true God. 11 He prayed unto God when he should go to fight. 12 He obtaineth the victory.
1 So (A)Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead: in whose days the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the [a]groves,
4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do according to the Law and the Commandment.
5 And he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places, and the images: therefore the Kingdom was [b]quiet before him.
6 He built also strong cities in Judah, because the land was in rest, and he had no war in those years: for the Lord had given him rest.
7 Therefore he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and make walls about, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is [c]before us: because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side: so they built and prospered.
8 And Asa had an army of Judah, that bare shields and spears, three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were valiant men.
9 ¶ And there came out against him Zerah [d]of Ethiopia with an host of ten hundred thousand, and three hundred chariots, and came unto [e]Mareshah.
10 Then Asa went out before him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah, beside Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, (B)it is nothing with thee to help [f]with many, or with no power: help us, O Lord our God: for we rest on thee, and in thy Name are we come against this multitude: O Lord, thou art our God: [g]let not man prevail against thee.
12 ¶ So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people that was with him, pursued them unto Gerar. And the Ethiopians’ host was overthrown, so that there was no life in them: for they were destroyed before the Lord and before his host: and they carried away a mighty great spoil.
14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar: for the [h]fear of the Lord came upon them, and they spoiled all the cities, for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15 Yea, and they smote the tents of cattle, and carried away plenty of sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 14:3 Which were planted contrary to the Law, Deut. 16:21.
- 2 Chronicles 14:5 He showeth that the rest and quietness of kingdoms standeth in abolishing idolatry, and advancing true religion.
- 2 Chronicles 14:7 While we have the full government thereof.
- 2 Chronicles 14:9 The king of Ethiopia, or Egypt.
- 2 Chronicles 14:9 Which was a city in Judah, Josh. 15:44, where Michaiah the Prophet was born.
- 2 Chronicles 14:11 Or, against many, without power.
- 2 Chronicles 14:11 Thus the children of God neither trust in their own power or policy, neither fear the strength and subtlety of their enemies, but consider the cause and see whether their enterprises tend to God’s glory, and thereupon assure themselves of the victory by him, which is only Almighty, and can turn all flesh into dust with the breath of his mouth.
- 2 Chronicles 14:14 The Lord had stricken them with fear.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.