The Cushite Invasion

⁸ Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears,^(A) and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors. ⁹ Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300^[a] chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. ¹⁰ So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.^(B)

¹¹ Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God:^(C) “Lord, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on You,^(D) and in Your name we have come against this large army. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You.”

¹² So the Lord routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah,^(E) and the Cushites fled. ¹³ Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar.^(F) The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot. ¹⁴ Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the Lord was on them.^(G) They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them. ¹⁵ They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.