2 Chronicles 14 - Contemporary English Version (CEV)

King Asa of Judah

14 Abijah died and was buried in Jerusalem. Then his son Asa became king, and Judah had ten years of peace.

2 Asa obeyed the Lord his God and did right. 3 He destroyed the local shrines[a] and the altars to foreign gods. He smashed the stone images of gods and cut down the sacred poles[b] used in worshiping the goddess Asherah. 4 Then he told everyone in Judah to worship the Lord God, just as their ancestors had done, and to obey his laws and teachings. 5 He destroyed every local shrine and incense altar in Judah.

6 The Lord blessed Judah with peace while Asa was king, and so during that time, Asa fortified many of the towns. 7 He said to the people, “Let's build walls and defense towers for these towns, and put in gates that can be locked with bars. This land still belongs to us, because we have obeyed the Lord our God. He has given us peace from all our enemies.” The people did everything Asa had suggested.

8 Asa had a large army of brave soldiers: 300,000 of them were from the tribe of Judah and were armed with shields and spears; 280,000 were from Benjamin and were armed with shields and bows.

Judah Defeats Ethiopia's Army

9 Zerah from Ethiopia[c] led an army of 1,000,000 soldiers and 300 chariots to the town of Mareshah[d] in Judah. 10 Asa met him there, and the two armies prepared for battle in Zephathah Valley.

11 Asa prayed:

Lord God, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. So we depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name, and we know that you won't be defeated. You are the Lord our God.

12 The Lord helped Asa and his army defeat the Ethiopians. The enemy soldiers ran away, 13 but Asa and his troops chased them as far as Gerar. It was a total defeat—the Ethiopians could not even fight back![e]

The soldiers from Judah took everything that had belonged to the Ethiopians. 14 The people who lived in the villages around Gerar learned what had happened and were afraid of the Lord. So Judah's army easily defeated them and carried off everything of value that they wanted from these towns. 15 They also attacked the camps where the shepherds lived and took a lot of sheep, goats, and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. 14.3 local shrines: See the note at 11.15.
  2. 14.3 sacred poles: Or “trees,” used as symbols of Asherah, the goddess of fertility.
  3. 14.9 Ethiopia: See the note at 12.3.
  4. 14.9 Mareshah: About 40 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem.
  5. 14.13 the Ethiopians could not even fight back: Or “not one of the Ethiopians survived!”

You Might Also Like:

2 Chronicles 14 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

14 And Abijah lieth with his fathers, and they bury him in the city of David, and reign doth Asa his son in his stead: in his days was the land quiet ten years. 2 And Asa doth that which is good, and that which is right, in the eyes of Jehovah his God, 3 and turneth aside the altars of the stranger,...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

14 And Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa, his son, reigned for him. In whose days the land rested in peace ten years (In whose days the land was at peace for ten years). 2 And Asa did that, that was good and pleasant in the sight of his God, (And Asa di...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - World English Bible (WEB)

14 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years. 2 Asa did that which was good and right in Yahweh his God’s eyes; 3 for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pil...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - The Voice (VOICE)

14 After Abijah joined his ancestors in death and was laid with his fathers in the city of David, Jerusalem, his son Asa ruled the Southern Kingdom in his place. During Asa’s reign, the country was quiet for 10 years as it had been during Solomon’s rule. 2 Asa obeyed the Eternal One, his True God, ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Asa’s Reforms Bring Adonai’s Rest14 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of Adonai his God. 2 He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. 3 He commanded Judah to seek Adonai, the God of their fathers, and to obey the Torah and the m...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Asa Reigns14 [a] So Abi′jah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land had rest for ten years. 2 [b] And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He took away the foreign altars and the high...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Asa Reigns14 [a]So Abijah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. His son Asa succeeded him. In his days the land was quiet for ten years.(A)2 [b]Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God. 3 He took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Early Years of Asa’s Reign14 [a]When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years. 2 [b]Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New Life Version (NLV)

King Asa Rules in Judah14 Abijah died and they buried him in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. In his days the land had peace ten years. 2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 For he put away the strange altars and high places. He tore down the p...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Asa Reigns over Judah14 So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then (A)Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years. Asa Reigns in Judah(B)2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God, 3 for he removed the ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

14 [a]And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. Asa king of Judah2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He removed the foreign altars and the high...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New International Version (NIV)

14 [a]And Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. Asa King of Judah(A)2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.(B) 3 He removed the foreign altars(C) and ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

14 Abijah joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in the City of David. Abijah’s son Asa became the next king after him. While Asa was king, the country had peace and rest for ten years. Asa Becomes King of Judah2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord h...
Read More

2 Chronicles 14 - New English Translation (NET)

14 (13:23)[a] Abijah passed away[b] and was buried in the City of David.[c] His son Asa replaced him as king. During his reign[d] the land had rest for ten years. Asa’s Religious and Military Accomplishments2 (14:1) Asa did what the Lord his God desired and approved.[e] 3 He removed the pagan altar...
Read More