SARAH
（《历代志下》14章）
(2 Chronicles 14)
上回讲到亚撒当犹大王，因为亚撒谦卑听神的话。他把那些拜外邦神的祭坛、偶像全都拆了，把木头做的偶像也砍掉了。国家太平了十年。
Last time, we talked about Asa becoming king of Judah. Because Asa was humble and listened to God, he tore down the altars and idols used to worship foreign gods. He also cut down the wooden idols. The country enjoyed peace for ten years.
然后他告诉老百姓：
“你们别整天随性乱行，咱们好好寻求上帝，照着上帝的律法和诫命生活。”
Then he told the people:
“Don’t just live however you want. Let’s truly seek God and live according to His laws and commandments.”
他还把犹大各地那些拜偶像的地方都清理干净。
He also cleared out all the places throughout Judah where people worshiped idols.
正是因为他们这样行，寻求上帝，所以国家得享太平。
Because they did these things and sought God, the nation enjoyed peace.
趁着这段太平日子，亚撒开始修城、建防御工事。他把城墙修好，盖楼、装城门、做门闩，把城池建得结结实实。
During this peaceful time, Asa began rebuilding the cities and strengthening their defenses. He repaired the walls, built towers, installed city gates, and made bars for the gates, making the cities strong and secure.
亚撒说：
“咱们趁现在的时间，赶紧把城建起来，把城墙和防御都弄起来。现在这片地还在咱们手里，是因为咱们一直跟随上帝。只要咱们依靠他，咱们四面八方就都平安。”
Asa said:
“Let’s use this time to build up our cities and strengthen the walls and defenses. This land is still in our hands because we have followed God. As long as we depend on Him, we will have peace on every side.”
于是大家就开始建城，而且一切都那么顺利。
So the people began building the cities, and everything went smoothly.
亚撒手下有三十万犹大士兵，他们拿着大盾牌和长枪；便雅悯支派还有二十八万人，他们拿着小盾牌、拉着弓。
Asa had 300,000 soldiers from Judah. They carried large shields and spears. The tribe of Benjamin had another 280,000 men who carried smaller shields and bows.
这些人都是能打仗的勇士。
All of these men were mighty warriors.
但是，麻烦很快就来了。
But trouble soon came.
有一个古实人，名叫谢拉，带着一支非常庞大的军队杀了过来。
A Cushite named Zerah came against them with a very large army.
这支军队有一百万人，还有三百辆战车。
His army had one million soldiers and three hundred chariots.
他们一路打到了玛利沙。
They came all the way to Mareshah.
亚撒一看，这阵仗可不小。
When Asa saw this enormous army, he knew this was no small battle.
于是他带着军队出去迎战，两边就在洗法谷摆开阵势。
So he led his army out to meet them, and the two armies lined up for battle in the Valley of Zephathah.
这时候，亚撒没有骄傲，他做的是先向上帝祷告：
At that moment, Asa did not become proud. Instead, he first prayed to God:
“上帝啊，这场仗不是看谁人多、谁人少，真正能帮助我们的只有你。
“God, this battle is not about who has more people or fewer people. You alone are able to help us.
我们的神啊，我们相信你，所以我们才敢出来面对这么大的军队。
Our God, we trust in You, and that is why we dare to face such a huge army.
我们是奉你的名来迎战的。
We have come out to fight in Your name.
你是我们的神，求你不要让人胜过你。”
You are our God. Please do not let people prevail against You.”
结果，事情发生了变化。
Then everything changed.
上帝出手，使古实人的军队败在亚撒和犹大军队面前。
God intervened, and the army of the Cushites was defeated before Asa and the army of Judah.
古实人大败，开始拼命逃跑。
The Cushites were completely defeated and began to run for their lives.
亚撒和他的军队就在后面一路追，追到了基拉耳。
Asa and his army chased after them all the way to Gerar.
古实军队死伤惨重，再也没有办法重新组织起来。
The Cushite army suffered such a great defeat that they could no longer regroup.
他们是真的失败了，输就输在他们面对的是上帝帮助的军队。
They truly lost, because they were facing an army that God was helping.
与此同时犹大人也得到了大量战利品。
Meanwhile, the people of Judah took a great amount of spoil from the battle.
后来，他们又攻打基拉耳周围的城邑。
Afterward, they attacked the cities around Gerar.
那些城里的人听说上帝帮助了亚撒他们，就非常害怕。
When the people in those cities heard that God was helping Asa and his army, they became very afraid.
所以犹大军队没费太多兵马就攻下了那些城，里面也有大量的财物。
So the army of Judah captured those cities without losing many men, and there was a great deal of wealth inside them.
他们还夺走了许多羊和骆驼，最后带着这些东西回到了耶路撒冷。
They also took many sheep and camels, and finally returned to Jerusalem with all these things.