Asa Succeeds Abijah in Judah

(1 Kings 15:9-15)

1So Abijah 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 was quiet ten years.

2And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: 3for he took away the strange altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim; 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest. 7For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. 8And Asa had an army that bare bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: an these were mighty men of valour.

9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah. 10Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, there is none beside thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O LORD our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee; 12So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. 13And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty. 14And they smote all the cities round shout Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them: 15They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.