{[chapter 13:23 in Hebrew]}So 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. {[chapter 14:1 in Hebrew]}
And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God:
for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the {Or, obelisks}pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest.
For 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 Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
And 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: all these were mighty men of valor.
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah.
Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, {Or, there is no difference with thee to help, whether the mighty or him &c.}there is none {Or, like}besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians {Or, so that none remained alive}so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were {Hebrew: broken.}destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for {Or, a terror from Jehovah}the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
Querverweise zu 2. Chronika 14,9 2Chr 14,9
And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Jehovah,
and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.
with twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
I will yet bring unto thee, O {Hebrew: inhabitress.}inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand.
And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee, he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,
{Or, Break, O ye}Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces.
Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for {Hebrw: immanu El.}God is with us.
{Hebrew: Cush.}Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all the mingled people, and Cub, and the children of {Or, the land of the covenant}the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth {Or, upon}unto the kings of the whole {Greek: inhabited earth.}world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.