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14 Abia a adormit cu părinţii lui şi a fost îngropat în cetatea lui David. Şi, în locul lui, a domnit fiul său Asa. Pe vremea lui, ţara a avut odihnă zece ani.

Asa, împăratul lui Iuda

Asa(A) a făcut ce este bine şi plăcut înaintea Domnului, Dumnezeului său. A îndepărtat altarele dumnezeilor străini şi înălţimile(B), a sfărâmat(C) stâlpii idoleşti şi a tăiat(D) Astarteele. A poruncit lui Iuda să caute pe Domnul, Dumnezeul părinţilor săi, şi să împlinească Legea şi poruncile. A îndepărtat din toate cetăţile lui Iuda înălţimile şi stâlpii închinaţi soarelui. Şi împărăţia a avut pace sub el. A zidit cetăţi întărite în Iuda, căci ţara a fost liniştită şi împotriva lui n-a fost război în anii aceia, pentru că Domnul i-a dat odihnă. El a zis lui Iuda: „Să zidim aceste cetăţi şi să le înconjurăm cu ziduri, cu turnuri, cu porţi şi cu zăvoare; ţara este încă a noastră, căci am căutat pe Domnul, Dumnezeul nostru. L-am căutat, şi El ne-a dat odihnă de toate părţile.” Au zidit dar şi au izbutit. Asa avea o oştire de trei sute de mii de oameni din Iuda, care purtau scut şi suliţă, şi două sute optzeci de mii din Beniamin, care purtau scut şi trăgeau cu arcul, toţi oameni viteji.

Asa biruieşte pe etiopieni

Zerah(E), Etiopianul, a ieşit împotriva lor cu o oştire de un milion de oameni şi trei sute de care şi a înaintat până la Mareşa(F). 10 Asa a mers înaintea lui şi s-au înşiruit de bătaie în valea Ţefata, lângă Mareşa. 11 Asa(G) a chemat pe Domnul, Dumnezeul lui, şi a zis: „Doamne, numai Tu poţi veni în ajutor(H) celui slab ca şi celui tare, vino în ajutorul nostru, Doamne, Dumnezeul nostru! Căci pe Tine ne sprijinim şi în Numele Tău(I) am venit împotriva acestei mulţimi. Doamne, Tu eşti Dumnezeul nostru: să nu iasă biruitor omul împotriva Ta!” 12 Domnul a lovit(J) pe etiopieni dinaintea lui Asa şi dinaintea lui Iuda, şi etiopienii au luat-o la fugă. 13 Asa şi poporul care era cu el i-au urmărit până la Gherar(K), şi etiopienii au căzut fără să-şi poată scăpa viaţa, căci au fost nimiciţi de Domnul şi de oştirea Lui. Asa şi poporul lui au făcut o pradă mare; 14 au bătut toate cetăţile din împrejurimile Gherarului, căci groaza(L) Domnului căzuse peste ele, şi au jefuit toate cetăţile a căror pradă era mare. 15 Au lovit şi corturile turmelor şi au luat cu ei o mare mulţime de oi şi de cămile. Apoi s-au întors la Ierusalim.

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)

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.(B) He removed the foreign altars(C) and the high places, smashed the sacred stones(D) and cut down the Asherah poles.[b](E) He commanded Judah to seek the Lord,(F) the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places(G) and incense altars(H) in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. 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)

“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.

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.

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

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:1 In Hebrew texts 14:1 is numbered 13:23, and 14:2-15 is numbered 14:1-14.
  2. 2 Chronicles 14:3 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Chronicles

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. [b] And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He took away the foreign altars (B)and the high places and broke down (C)the pillars and cut down the (D)Asherim and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:1 Ch 13:23 in Hebrew
  2. 2 Chronicles 14:2 Ch 14:1 in Hebrew
  3. 2 Chronicles 14:13 Hebrew They

14 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.

And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:

For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.

Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet 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.

And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.

And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let no 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 were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

Asa Reigns over Judah

14 So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then (A)Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years.

Asa Reigns in Judah(B)

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and (C)the [a]high places, and (D)broke down the sacred pillars (E)and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to (F)seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the [b]high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the Lord had given him (G)rest. Therefore he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried [c]shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew (H)bows; all these were mighty men of (I)valor.

(J)Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to (K)Mareshah. 10 So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa (L)cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is (M)nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and (N)in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”

12 So the Lord (O)struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to (P)Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the Lord and His army. And they carried away very much [d]spoil. 14 Then they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for (Q)the fear of the Lord came upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much [e]spoil in them. 15 They also [f]attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 14:3 Places for pagan worship
  2. 2 Chronicles 14:5 Places for pagan worship
  3. 2 Chronicles 14:8 large shields
  4. 2 Chronicles 14:13 plunder
  5. 2 Chronicles 14:14 plunder
  6. 2 Chronicles 14:15 Lit. struck