Judah’s King Asa
3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.14:3 Ex 34:13; Dt 7:5
4He told the people of Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.
The Cushite Invasion
8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah bearing large shields and spears,14:8 2Ch 13:3 and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were valiant warriors.
9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and three hundred14:9 Syr, Arabic read 30,000 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah.
11Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God,14:11 2Ch 13:14 “Lord, there is no one besides you to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, Lord our God, for we depend on you,14:11 2Ch 13:18 and in your name we have come against this large army. Lord, you are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder you.”
12So the Lord routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah,14:12 2Ch 13:15 and the Cushites fled.
13Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar.14:13 Gn 10:19 The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before the Lord and his army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot.
14Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the Lord was on them.14:14 2Ch 17:10 They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them.
15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
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