## Asa Reigns over Judah 

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So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place. The land was quiet for ten years during his days. 

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And Asa did what was good and right in the sight of Yahweh his God, 

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for he removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the _sacred_ pillars, cut the Asherim in pieces, 

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and said for Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 

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He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was quiet before him. 

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And he built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was quiet, and there was no one at war with him during those years, because Yahweh had given him rest. 

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And he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and surround _them_ with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought Yahweh our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded. 

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Now Asa had a military force of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were mighty men of valor. 

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Then Zerah the Ethiopian went out against them with a military force of one million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. 

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So Asa went out to meet him, and they arranged _themselves_ for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 

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Then Asa called to Yahweh his God and said, "Yahweh, there is no one besides You to help _in the battle_ between those of abundant _power_ and those who have no power; so help us, O Yahweh our God, for we lean on You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Yahweh, You are our God; let not mortal man prevail against You." 

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So Yahweh smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. 

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And Asa and the people who _were_ with him pursued them as far as Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before Yahweh and before His army. And they carried away very much spoil. 

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And they struck down all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of Yahweh had fallen on them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. 

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They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.