2 Chronicles 14

1 Then Abijah [slept with his fathers, died] rested with his fathers and was buried [laid to rest, entombed] in the City of David [the royal city, Jerusalem]. And his son Asa [the wise king, son of Abijam] reigned [ruled, governed] in his place [stead, position], and in his days [time, reign] the land [Judah, the kingdom] was at peace [quiet, still] for ten years [a decade, a period of tranquility]. word study 2 And Asa did what was [morally upright, pleasing to God] good and [righteous, just] right in the eyes of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] his God. word study 3 He removed [took away, abolished] the foreign [strange, pagan] altars [sacred structures, places of worship] and high places [elevated areas of worship, shrines], shattered [broke down, demolished] the sacred [holy, set apart] pillars [monuments, stone columns], and chopped down [cut down, hewed down] the Asherah poles [wooden idols, sacred trees]. word study 4 He commanded [ordered, instructed] the people of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] to seek [search for, inquire of] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent One], the God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers], and to observe [keep, obey] the law [Torah, instruction] and the commandments [precepts, divine orders]. word study 5 He also removed [took away, destroyed] the high places [sun-images, idolatrous altars] and incense altars [images, pagan shrines] from all the cities [towns, settlements] of Judah, and under him [during his reign, as king] the kingdom [land, nation] was at peace [quiet, still, in a state of rest]. word study 6 Because the land [the earth, the territory] was at peace [quiet, rest], Asa built [constructed, established] fortified cities [strong cities, walled towns] in Judah [the region, the tribe]. In those days [years, times] no one made war [fought, attacked] with him, because the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] had given him rest [peace, tranquility]. word study 7 So he said to the people of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah], “Let us build [construct, establish] these cities and surround them with walls [fortifications, strongholds] and towers [watchtowers, fortresses], with doors [gates, entrances] and bars [locks, bolts]. The land [the territory, the earth] is still ours because we have sought [prayed to, worshipped] the LORD our God [Yehovah, the covenant-keeping God]. We have sought [searched for, inquired of] Him and He has given us rest [peace, tranquility] on every side [in all directions, completely].” So they built [constructed, established] and prospered [thrived, succeeded]. word study 8 Asa had an army [consisting of brave warriors] of 300,000 men from Judah [the tribe of Judah, descendants of Jacob’s son] bearing large shields [body-covers, protective armor] and spears [long, pointed weapons], and 280,000 men from Benjamin [the tribe of Benjamin, another son of Jacob] bearing small shields [light, handheld shields] and drawing the bow [using bows and arrows for battle]. All these were mighty men [strong, valiant, and courageous] of valor [great strength, courage, and honor]. word study 9 Then Zerah [the Ethiopian, a man from Ethiopia/Sudan] the Cushite came against them with an army [host, a thousand thousand] of 1,000,000 men [troops, warriors] and 300 chariots [war-carriages], and they advanced [marched, came] as far as Mareshah [a city in the lowlands of Judah]. word study 10 So Asa [went out to confront] marched out against him and lined up in battle formation [set the battle in array, took their positions] in the Valley [lowland, plain] of Zephathah near Mareshah [a city in Judah]. word study 11 Then Asa cried out to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] his God: “O LORD [the supreme Being], there is no one besides You [no other deity or power] to help the powerless [those without strength or resources] against the mighty [the strong and powerful]. Help us, O LORD our God [the God of our covenant], for we rely on You [trust in Your faithfulness], and in Your name [Your authority and character] we have come against this multitude [large army]. O LORD, You are our God [our loyal and covenant-keeping God]. Do not let a mere mortal [a human being, frail and weak] prevail against You [succeed or overcome Your will].” word study 12 So the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] struck down [smote, defeated utterly] the Cushites [Ethiopians, descendants of Cush] before Asa [the king of Judah, son of Abijam] and Judah [the people of God, the nation], and the Cushites [Ethiopians] fled [in fear, with haste]. word study 13 Then Asa [and his mighty army] and his army pursued them [the Cushites] as far as Gerar [a city in the land of the Philistines]. The Cushites [Ethiopians, a powerful and numerous people] fell [were overthrown, utterly destroyed] and could not recover [were broken, unable to rise again], for they were crushed [destroyed, slaughtered] before the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] and His army [host, fighting forces]. So the people of Judah [God’s chosen people] carried off [plundered, seized] a great amount [abundant, large quantity] of plunder [spoils, booty, riches] word study 14 and attacked [struck, smote] all the cities [towns, villages] around Gerar, because the terror [fear, dread] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty] had fallen [come upon] upon them. They plundered [spoiled, despoiled] all the cities, since there was [exceeding, abundant] much [a large amount of] plunder [spoil, booty] there. word study 15 They also attacked the tents [camps, shelters] of the herdsmen [owners of the cattle] and carried off many [great numbers, abundant] sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. word study