1And he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

2And he removed the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves:

3and he told Judah to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and the commandments.

4And he removed from all the cities of Judah the altars and the idols, and established in quietness

5fortified cities in the land of Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in these years; for the Lord gave him rest.

6And he said to Judah, Let us fortify these cities, and make walls, and towers, and gates, and bars: we shall prevail over the land, for as we have sought out the Lord our God, he has sought out us, and has given us rest round about, and prospered us.

7And Asa had a force of armed men bearing shields and spears in the land of Judah, even three hundred thousand, and in the land of Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand targeteers and archers: all these were mighty warriors.

8And Zerah the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Mareshah.

9And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Mareshah.

10And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is not impossible with thee to save by many or by few: strengthen us, O Lord our God; for we trust in thee, and in thy name have we come against this great multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against thee.

11And the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

12And Asa and his people pursued them to Gedor; and the Ethiopians fell, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were crushed before the Lord, and before his host; and they took many spoils.

13And they destroyed their towns round about Gedor; for a terror of the Lord was upon them: and they spoiled all their cities, for they had much spoil.

14Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.