2 Chronicles 14:1-8

1Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for ten years.

2Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles.

4He told the people of Judah to seek the Lord God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands.

5He also removed the high places and the shrines from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him.

6Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because the Lord gave him rest.

7So he said to the people of Judah, “Let’s build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the Lord our God. We sought him and he gave us rest on every side.” So they built and succeeded.

8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were valiant warriors.