2 Chronicles 14

14 ¹Abijah rested with his ancestors; they buried him in the City of David. His son Asa became king, and the land had peace ten years. ²Asa did what was good and right in the sight of our Father. ³He removed the foreign altars and high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. ⁴He commanded Judah to seek our Father, the God of their ancestors, and keep the law and commandment. ⁵He also removed the high places and incense altars from all Judah's cities, and the kingdom was at peace under him. ⁶He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was at peace. He fought no war those years, because our Father gave him rest. ⁷He told Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours, because we sought our Father; we sought him, and he gave us rest all around." So they built and thrived.

⁸Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah with large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin with shields and bows—all mighty warriors.

⁹Zerah the Cushite marched against them with a million troops and 300 chariots, advancing to Mareshah. ¹⁰Asa marched out against him, and they lined up for battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. ¹¹Then Asa cried to our Father his God: "Father, only you can help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we face this vast horde. You are our God; let no mere man prevail against you."

¹²So our Father struck down the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. ¹³Asa and his people pursued them to Gerar, and the Cushites fell until none survived, for they were shattered before our Father and his army. Judah's men carried off great plunder. ¹⁴They struck down all the cities around Gerar, for the terror of our Father had fallen on them. They looted all the cities, since much plunder was in them. ¹⁵They also attacked the herdsmen's tents, carried off many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.