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780 SECOND CHRONICLES XIV-ASA REPELS THE ETHIOPIANS

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

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

5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

6¶ And 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. 7 Therefore 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. 8 And 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.

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

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

11 And 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.

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

13 And 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.

14 And 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.

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

Chapter 15

1 Asa with Judah and many of Israel, moved by the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, make a solemn covenant with God. 16 He putteth down Maachah his mother for her idolatry. 18 He bringeth dedicated things into the house of God, and enjoyeth a long peace.

ND the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of
Oded:

2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you,

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The Wisdom of Solomon

AFTER RAPHAEL, THE GREAT MASTER OF THE RENAISSANCE. THE ORIGINAL IS IN THE MUSEUM

OF THE VATICAN.

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"They saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment."-I Kings, 3, 28.

B

EING thus honored abroad and securely established at home, Solomon, at least in his younger days, devoted himself to caring for his people, to being a truly good and thoughtful king, such as his father had been. God was well pleased with the earnest youth; and, in a vision of the night, Solomon felt that he was offered, like a prince in a fairy tale, the choice of any one good gift. He chose wisdom.

The high repute of the young monarch soon exceeded that of his father. One incident which especially contributed to his renown for keen practical sagacity, was the well-known story of the two women who appealed to him for judgment. Each woman had an infant son; and, one child having died, each mother claimed the living babe as hers. Solomon bade a soldier divide the child in half. Thus he wrung from the real mother a cry of surrender. She would give up the babe rather than see it slain. Then the king stayed the hand of the soldier, and gave the living boy to the woman who had proved her love. "And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king."

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