Asa Defeats the Ethiopians

2 Chronicles 14

Asa removes idols and foreign altars, fortifies the cities of Juda in a time of peace, and when Zare the Ethiopian invades with a vast army, Asa cries out to the Lord for help and the Ethiopians are routed and pursued with great spoil taken from them.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

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

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

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησε τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

JPSAnd Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God;

ThomsonHe removed the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the bowers,

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

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστησε τὰ θυσιαστήρια τῶν ἀλλοτρίων καὶ τὰ ὑψηλὰ, καὶ συνέτριψε τὰς στήλας, καὶ ἐξέκοψε τὰ ἄλση,

KJVFor he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

JPSfor he took away the strange altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim;

Thomsonand ordered Juda to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and the commandments.

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

Greekκαὶ εἶπε τῷ Ἰούδα ἐκζητῆσαι τὸν Κύριον Θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν, καὶ ποιῆσαι τὸν νόμον καὶ τὰς ἐντολάς.

KJVAnd commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

JPSand commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. .

ThomsonAnd having removed out of all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, he gave peace to the fortified cities in the land of Juda:

BrentonAnd he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, and established in quietness

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστησεν ἀπὸ πασῶν πόλεων Ἰούδα τὰ θυσιαστήρια καὶ τὰ εἴδωλα, καὶ εἰρήνευσε πόλεις τειχήρεις ἐν γῇ Ἰούδα,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonbecause the country enjoyed peace, and he had no war during those years, for the Lord gave him rest;

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

Greekὅτι εἰρήνευσεν ἡ γῆ, καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτῷ πόλεμος ἐν τοῖς ἔτεσι τούτοις, ὅτι κατέπαυσε Κύριος αὐτῷ.

KJVAnd he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

JPSAnd he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

Thomsontherefore he said to Juda, let us rebuild the cities, and make walls and towers, and gates and bars, and secure dominion over the country before them. For as we have sought the Lord our God, He hath sought us, and given us rest all around, and prospered us.

BrentonAnd he said to Juda, 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.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε τῷ Ἰούδα, οἰκοδομήσωμεν τὰς πόλεις ταύτας, καὶ ποιήσωμεν τείχη καὶ πύργους καὶ πύλας καὶ μοχλοὺς, ἐνώπιον τῆς γῆς κυριεύσομεν· ὅτι καθὼς ἐξεζητήσαμεν Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, ἐξεζήτησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ κατέπαυσεν ἡμᾶς κυκλόθεν, καὶ εὐώδωσεν ἡμῖν.

KJVTherefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while 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.

JPSFor 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.

ThomsonNow Asa had in the land of Juda an army of three hundred thousand men bearing shields and spears, and in the land of Benjamin shield bearers and bowmen, two hundred and eighty-six thousand. All these were fighting men.

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

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο δύναμις τῷ Ἀσὰ ὁπλοφόρων αἰρόντων θυρεοὺς καὶ δόρατα ἐν γῇ Ἰούδα τριακόσιαι χιλιάδες, καὶ ἐν γῇ Βενιαμὶν πελτασταὶ καὶ τοξόται διακόσιαι καὶ ὀγδοήκοντα χιλιάδες, πάντες οὗτοι πολεμισταὶ δυνάμεως.

KJVAnd Asa had an army of men that bare targets 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 valour.

JPSAnd Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; all these were mighty men of valour.

ThomsonAnd Zare the Ethicpean came out against them with an army of a million, with three hundred chariots. And when he had advanced as far as Maresa,

BrentonAnd Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς Ζαρὲ ὁ Αἰθίοψ ἐν δυνάμει ἐν χιλίαις χιλιάσι καὶ ἅρμασι τριακοσίοις, καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως Μαρησά.

KJVAnd there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

JPSAnd there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah.

ThomsonAsa went out to meet him, and drew up for battle, in the vale north of Maresa,

BrentonAnd Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Maresa.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἀσὰ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ παρετάξατο πόλεμον ἐν τῇ φάραγγι κατὰ Βοῤῥᾶν Μαρησά.

KJVThen Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

JPSThen Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephath at Mareshah.

Thomsonand Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is nothing with Thee to save with many or with few. Strengthen us, O Lord our God; for on Thee is our reliance; and in Thy name we are come against this great multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against Thee.

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ ἐβόησεν Ἀσὰ πρὸς Κύριον Θεὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἶπε, Κύριε, οὐκ ἀδυνατεῖ παρὰ σοὶ σώζειν ἐν πολλοῖς καὶ ἐν ὀλίγοις· κατίσχυσον ἡμᾶς Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ πεποιθαμεν, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί σου ἤλθομεν ἐπὶ τὸ πλῆθος τὸ πολὺ τοῦτο· Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, μὴ κατισχυσάτω πρὸς σὲ ἄνθρωπος.

KJVAnd Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

JPSAnd 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. Thou art the LORD our God; let not man prevail against Thee.’

ThomsonSo the Lord smote the Ethiopeans before Juda. And the Ethiopeans fled,

BrentonAnd the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians fled.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπάταξε Κύριος τοὺς Αἰθίοπας ἐναντίον Ἰούδα, καὶ ἔφυγον Αἰθίοπες,

KJVSo the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

JPSSo the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

Thomsonand Asa and his people pursued them as far as Gedor. And the Ethiopeans fell so that they could not recover themselves; for they were trampled down before the Lord, and before His army. And they had taken immense spoils,

BrentonAnd 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.

Greekκαὶ κατεδίωξεν αὐτοὺς Ἀσὰ καὶ ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἕως Γεδώρ· καὶ ἔπεσον Αἰθίοπες ὥστε μὴ εἶναι ἐν αὐτοῖς περιποίησιν, ὅτι συνετρίβησαν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἐναντίον τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσκύλευσαν σκῦλα πολλά.

KJVAnd Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

JPSAnd Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar; and there fell of the Ethiopians so that none remained alive; for they were shattered before the LORD, and before His host; and they carried away very much booty.

Thomsonand smitten the towns about Gedor (for the terror of the Lord was upon them) and had rifled all their cities (for there was much plunder in them)

BrentonAnd 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.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξέκοψαν τὰς κώμας αὐτῶν κύκλῳ Γεδὼρ, ὅτι ἐγενήθη ἔκστασις Κυρίου ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐσκύλευσαν πάσας τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν, ὅτι πολλὰ σκῦλα ἐγενήθη αὐτοῖς.

KJVAnd they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.

JPSAnd they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for a terror from the LORD came upon them; and they spoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.

Thomsonand plundered their tents, and smitten the Alimazonians and taken many sheep and camels, and were returning to Jerusalem.

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

GreekΚαί γε σκηνὰς κτήσεων, καὶ τοὺς Ἀλιμαζονεῖς ἐξέκοψαν, καὶ ἔλαβον πρόβατα πολλὰ καὶ καμήλους, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVThey smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.

JPSThey smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.