Asa Follows God
Study note
After Abijah died, his son Asa became king. Asa did what was good and right in the Lord's eyes. He tore down the foreign altars and hilltop shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord and obey his laws. The land had peace for ten years.
1 When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. His son Asa became the next king. During Asa's time, the land was peaceful for ten years. 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.
2 Asa did what the Lord his God considered good and right. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
3 He removed the foreign altars and hilltop worship places. He smashed the sacred stone pillars and chopped down the poles used to worship the goddess Asherah. For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
4 He told the people of Judah to look to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to follow his laws and commands. And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 He also removed the hilltop worship places and incense altars from every city in Judah. The kingdom enjoyed peace while he ruled. Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
Asa Builds Up Judah's Defenses
Study note
During the years of peace, Asa built fortified cities throughout Judah with walls, towers, gates, and bars. He recognized that the peace came from the Lord because they had sought him. Asa had a large army: 300,000 men from Judah with large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin with small shields and bows.
6 He built strong walled cities throughout Judah because the land was at peace. There were no wars during those years, because the Lord let him rest. 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.
7 Asa told the people of Judah, "Let's build up these cities with walls, towers, gates, and strong bars. The land still belongs to us because we have looked to the Lord our God. We looked to him, and he has given us peace all around us." So they built and did well. 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.
8 Asa's army had 300,000 men from Judah carrying large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin with small shields and bows. Every one of them was a brave fighter. 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.
Victory Over the Ethiopian Army
Study note
Zerah the Ethiopian attacked with an army of one million men and 300 chariots. Asa went out to meet him in the valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. Before the battle, Asa prayed one of the great prayers of faith: 'Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you.' God struck down the Ethiopians, and Asa's army pursued them all the way to Gerar, capturing much plunder.
9 An Ethiopian man named Zerah came to attack them with an army of a million soldiers and 300 chariots. He marched as far as Mareshah. 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 Asa went out to meet him. The two armies took their positions in the valley near Mareshah called Zephathah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 Then Asa prayed to the Lord his God: "Lord, no one else can help the weak against the strong like you can. Please help us, Lord our God! We are counting on you, and we have come to fight this huge army because of who you are. Lord, you are our God. Do not let any human being defeat you." 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 not man prevail against thee.
12 So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in front of Asa and Judah. The Ethiopians ran away. So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 Asa and his army chased them all the way to Gerar. So many Ethiopians fell that they could never recover. They were completely crushed before the Lord and his army. Judah's soldiers carried away a great amount of valuable things. 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 They attacked all the cities around Gerar because everyone in those cities was afraid of the Lord. They took valuables from all those cities because there was plenty to take. 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 also raided the camps of the herders and carried off large numbers of sheep, goats, and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem. They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.