, and that he might kill many ten thousands
of the enemy: "For," said he, [31] "I depend on nothing else but that
assistance which I expect from thee, which is able to make the fewer
superior to the more numerous, and the weaker to the stronger; and
thence it is alone that I venture to meet Zerah, and fight him."

2. While Asa was saying this, God gave him a signal of victory, and
joining battle cheerfully on account of what God had foretold about
it, he slew a great many of the Ethiopians; and when he had put them to
flight, he pursued them to the country of Gerar; and when they left off
killing their enemies, they betook themselves to spoiling them, [for the
city Gerar was already taken,] and to spoiling their camp, so that they
carried off much gold, and much silver, and a great deal of [other]
prey, and camels, and great cattle, and flocks of sheep. Accordingly,
when Asa and his army had obtained such a victory, and such wealth from
God, they returned to Jerusalem. Now as they were coming, a prophet,
whose name was Azariah, met them on the road, and bade them stop their
journey a little; and began to say to them thus: That the reason why
they had obtained this victory from God was this, that they had showed
themselves righteous and religious men, and had done every thing
according to the will of God; that therefore, he said, if they
persevered therein, God would grant that they should always overcome
their enemies, and live happily; but that if they left off his worship,
all things shall fall out on the contrary; and a time should come,
wherein no true prophet shall be left in your whole multitude, nor a
priest who shall deliver you a true answer from the oracle; but your
cities shall be overthrown, and your nation scattered over the whole
earth, and live the life of strangers and wanderers. So he advised them,
while they had time, to be good, and not to deprive themselves of the
favor of God. When the king and the people heard this, they rejoiced;
and all in common, and every one in particular, took great care to
behave themselves righteously. The king also sent some to take care that
those in the country should observe the laws also.

3. And this was the state of Asa, king of the two tribes. I now return
to Baasha, the king of the multitude of the Israelites, who slew Nadab,
the son of Jeroboam, and retained the government. He dwelt in the city
Tirzah, having made that his habitation, and reigned twenty-four years