1 And Abijah lay down 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 was quiet {shaqtah: free from turmoil} for ten years {shanim: measured periods}.
2 And Asa did what was good {tov: beneficial} and upright {yashar: morally straight} in the eyes of the LORD {YHWH, Standard-Setter} his God {Elohav: Personal Deity}.
3 And he removed the foreign altars and the high places, and he broke in pieces the standing stones {matsevot: upright stone pillars used in pagan worship}, and he cut down the Asherim {asherim: sacred wooden poles or cultic trees}.
4 And he commanded Judah to seek the LORD {YHWH Elohei avoteihem: Ancestral Protector}, the God of their fathers, and to do the law {torah: covenant instruction} and the commandment.
5 And he removed the high places {bamot: pagan worship sites} and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was calm before him {lefanav: in his presence}.
6 And he built fortified cities in Judah because the land was at rest, and there was no war with him in those years, for the LORD {YHWH, Peace Giver} gave him rest {heni’ach: settled security}.
7 And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still before us, because we have sought the LORD our God {YHWH Eloheinu, Covenant Rest Giver}. We have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered {yatslechu: succeeded greatly}.
8 And Asa {Asa: monarch of Judah} had an army bearing large shields and spears from Judah—300,000—and from Benjamin, shield bearers and bowmen, 280,000; all were mighty warriors {giborei chayil: valiant men}.
9 Then Zerah the Cushite {hakushi: region south of Egypt} went out against them with an army of a million {alafim: overwhelming numbers} and 300 chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah.
10 And Asa went out, and they drew up {vaya‘arkhu: organized formation} for battle {milḥamah: armed conflict} in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.
12 And the LORD {YHWH, Divine Warrior} struck down {vayigof: inflicted defeat} the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled.
13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Cushites fell so that none remained alive for them, because they were crushed before the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer in Battle} and before His camp; then they carried off exceedingly much plunder {shalal: war spoils}.
14 And they struck all the cities around Gerar, for the terror of the LORD {YHWH, Terror-Instilling Sovereign} was upon them; and they plundered all the cities, because much spoil {meshissah: seized spoils} was in them.
15 And they struck down the tents {ohelei: herders’ camps} of livestock, seized sheep in abundance and camels, and returned to Jerusalem {Yerushalayim: City of Peace}.