Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Chronicles 13
²⁰ So Jeroboam of Israel never regained his power during Abijah’s lifetime, and finally the LORD struck him down and he died.
²¹ Meanwhile, Abijah of Judah grew more and more powerful. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.
²² The rest of the events of Abijah’s reign, including his words and deeds, are recorded in The Commentary of Iddo the Prophet.
2 Chronicles 14
¹ 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 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 smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles.
⁴ He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands.
⁵ Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.
⁶ During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the LORD was giving him rest from his enemies.
⁷ Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion.
⁸ King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men.