2 Chronicles 14:9

⁷ So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

⁸ Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

¹⁰ So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

¹¹ Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.
KJV: And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
WEB: Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And Zerah the Ethiopian came out against him with a host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
BLB: And came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousands, and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

ÅB: Men etioperen Serah dro ut imot dem med en hær på tusen ganger tusen mann og tre hundre stridsvogner, og han kom til Maresa.
OTB: Nå dro Sera fra Etiopia ut mot dem med en hær på en million mann og tre hundre vogner, og han kom så langt som til Maresja.
B1930: Men etioperen Serah drog ut imot dem med en hær på tusen ganger tusen mann og tre hundre stridsvogner, og han kom til Maresa.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Chronicles 16:8
Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 11:8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
Read in context
Joshua 15:44
Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah—nine cities, along with their villages.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 12:2–3
In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem
Read in context
2 Kings 19:9
Now Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush: “Look, he has set out to fight against you.” So Sennacherib again sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
Read in context
Ezekiel 30:5
Cush, Put, and Lud, and all the various peoples, as well as Libya and the men of the covenant land, will fall with Egypt by the sword.
Read in context
Micah 1:15
I will again bring a conqueror against you, O dweller of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
Read in context
Isaiah 8:9–10
Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
Read in context