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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

II - Chapter 14

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Asa did what was good and pleasing to Hashem his God.

vai-YA-as a-SA ha-TOV v'-ha-YA-shar b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI e-lo-HAV

אוַיַּ֤עַשׂ אָסָא֙ הַטּ֣וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁ֔ר בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו׃

2He abolished the alien altars and shrines; he smashed the pillars and cut down the sacred posts.

va-YA-sar et-miz-B'-khoht ha-NE-khar v'-ha-BA-mot va-y'-sha-BAYR et ha-ma-TSE-vot va-y'-ga-DA et-ha-a-she-REEM

בוַיָּ֛סַר אֶת־מִזְבְּח֥וֹת הַנֵּכָ֖ר וְהַבָּמ֑וֹת וַיְשַׁבֵּר֙ אֶת־הַמַּצֵּב֔וֹת וַיְגַדַּ֖ע אֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִֽים׃

3He ordered Yehuda to turn to God of their fathers and to observe the Teaching and the Commandment.

vai-YO-mer li-Y'-hu-DAH lid-ROSH et a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY a-vo-TAY-hem v'-la-a-SOT ha-TO-rah v'-ha-mitz-VAH

גוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה לִדְר֕וֹשׁ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת הַתּוֹרָ֥ה וְהַמִּצְוָֽה׃

4He abolished the shrines and the incense stands throughout the cities of Yehuda, and the kingdom was untroubled under him.

vai-YA-sar mi-KOL a-RAY y'-hu-DA et ha-BA-mot v'-et ha-cha-ma-NEEM va-TISH-kot ha-mam-la-KHA l'-fa-NAV

דוַיָּ֙סַר֙ מִכׇּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה אֶת־הַבָּמ֖וֹת וְאֶת־הַחַמָּנִ֑ים וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה לְפָנָֽיו׃

5He built fortified towns in Yehuda, since the land was untroubled and he was not engaged in warfare during those years, for Hashem had granted him respite.

vai-YI-ven a-RAY m'-tzu-RAH bi-Y'-hu-DAH, KEE sha-K'-TAH ha-A-retz v'-AYN i-MO mil-kha-MAH ba-sha-NEEM ha-E-leh, KEE he-NEE-akh a-do-NAI LO

הוַיִּ֛בֶן עָרֵ֥י מְצוּרָ֖ה בִּֽיהוּדָ֑ה כִּֽי־שָׁקְטָ֣ה הָאָ֗רֶץ וְאֵין־עִמּ֤וֹ מִלְחָמָה֙ בַּשָּׁנִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה כִּֽי־הֵנִ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה לֽוֹ׃

6He said to Yehuda, “Let us build up these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars, while the land is at our disposal because we turned to Hashem our God—we turned [to Him] and He gave us respite on all sides.” They were successful in their building.

vai-YO-mer li-Y'-hu-DAH niv-NEH et ha-a-REEM ha-E-leh v'-na-SAYV kho-MAH u-mig-da-LEEM d'-la-TA-yim u-v'-ree-KHEEM o-DE-nu ha-A-retz l'-fa-NEE-nu kee da-RA-sh'-NU et a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu da-RA-sh'-NU vai-YA-nakh LA-nu mi-sa-VEEV vai-V'-NU vai-yatz-lee-KHU

ווַיֹּ֨אמֶר לִיהוּדָ֜ה נִבְנֶ֣ה ׀ אֶת־הֶעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה וְנָסֵ֨ב חוֹמָ֣ה וּמִגְדָּלִים֮ דְּלָתַ֣יִם וּבְרִיחִים֒ עוֹדֶ֨נּוּ הָאָ֜רֶץ לְפָנֵ֗ינוּ כִּ֤י דָרַ֙שְׁנוּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ דָּרַ֕שְׁנוּ וַיָּ֥נַֽח לָ֖נוּ מִסָּבִ֑יב וַיִּבְנ֖וּ וַיַּצְלִֽיחוּ׃

7Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Yehuda bearing shields and spears, and 280,000 from Binyamin bearing bucklers and drawing the bow; all these were valiant men.

vai-HI l'-a-SA kha-YIL no-SAY tzi-NA va-ro-MACH mi-Y'-hu-DAH sh'-LOSH may-OT e-LEF, u-mi-bi-nyam-EEM no-s'-AY ma-GEN v'-dor-KHAY KE-shet ma-ta-YIM u-sh'-mo-NEEM a-LEF, kol-E-leh gi-BO-rei kha-YIL.

זוַיְהִ֣י לְאָסָ֗א חַ֘יִל֮ נֹשֵׂ֣א צִנָּ֣ה וָרֹ֒מַח֒ מִֽיהוּדָה֙ שְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת אֶ֔לֶף וּמִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן נֹשְׂאֵ֤י מָגֵן֙ וְדֹ֣רְכֵי קֶ֔שֶׁת מָאתַ֥יִם וּשְׁמוֹנִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה גִּבּ֥וֹרֵי חָֽיִל׃

8Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of a thousand thousand and 300 chariots. When he reached Mareshah

vai-YAY-tzay a-LAY-hem ZE-rakh ha-ku-SHEE b'-kha-YIL e-LEF a-la-FEEM u-mar-ka-VOT sh'-LOSH may-OT vai-ya-VO ad ma-RE-sha

חוַיֵּצֵ֨א אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם זֶ֣רַח הַכּוּשִׁ֗י בְּחַ֙יִל֙ אֶ֣לֶף אֲלָפִ֔ים וּמַרְכָּב֖וֹת שְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת וַיָּבֹ֖א עַד־מָרֵשָֽׁה׃

9Asa confronted him, and the battle lines were drawn in the valley of Zephat by Mareshah.

vai-YAY-tzay a-SA l'-fa-NAV, va-ya-a-RA-khu mil-kha-MAH b'-GEY tz'-fa-TAH l'-ma-RE-shah

טוַיֵּצֵ֥א אָסָ֖א לְפָנָ֑יו וַיַּֽעַרְכוּ֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּגֵ֥יא צְפַ֖תָה לְמָרֵשָֽׁה׃

10Asa called to Hashem his God, and said, “Hashem, it is all the same to You to help the numerous and the powerless. Help us, Hashem our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this great multitude. You are Hashem our God. Let no mortal hinder You.”

va-yik-RA a-SA el a-do-NAI e-lo-HAV va-yo-MAR a-do-NAI ayn i-m'-KHA la-ZOR BAYN RAV l'-AYN KO-akh oz-RAY-nu a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu kee a-LE-kha nish-A-nu uv-shim-KHA VA-nu al he-ha-MON ha-ZEH a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu A-tah al ya-TZOR i-m'-KHA e-NOSH

יוַיִּקְרָ֨א אָסָ֜א אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָיו֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהֹוָ֗ה אֵֽין־עִמְּךָ֤ לַעְזֹר֙ בֵּ֥ין רַב֙ לְאֵ֣ין כֹּ֔חַ עׇזְרֵ֜נוּ יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ כִּֽי־עָלֶ֣יךָ נִשְׁעַ֔נּוּ וּבְשִׁמְךָ֣ בָ֔אנוּ עַל־הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ אַ֔תָּה אַל־יַעְצֹ֥ר עִמְּךָ֖ אֱנֽוֹשׁ׃

 14:10   In Your name we have come against this great multitude

Since the kingdom of Yehuda is the “kingdom of Hashem” (13:8), when it is attacked by a foreign enemy, it is fighting for God and His holy name. If the enemy wins, then in the enemy’s mind, they have defeated not only the Nation of Israel but also Hashem. This is one reason why throughout Jewish history, so many empires sought to conquer the Land of Israel and the city of Yerushalayim. This is also why it was so important to foreign powers to destroy the Beit Hamikdash, as a sign that they had overpowered the God of Israel. Just as Asa fought to defend God’s honor, so should we all.

11So Hashem routed the Cushites before Asa and Yehuda, and the Cushites fled.

va-YI-gof a-do-NAI et ha-ku-SHEEM lif-NEY a-SA v'-lif-NEY ye-HU-da va-ya-NU-su ha-ku-SHEEM

יאוַיִּגֹּ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הַכּוּשִׁ֔ים לִפְנֵ֥י אָסָ֖א וְלִפְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ הַכּוּשִֽׁים׃

12Asa and the army with him pursued them as far as Gerar. Many of the Cushites fell wounded beyond recovery, for they broke before Hashem and His camp. Very much spoil was taken.

vai-yir-DAY-faym a-SAH v'-ha-AHM a-SHER i-MO ad li-g'-RAR, vai-YI-pol mi-KU-shim l'-AYN la-HEM mi-KHY-a, ki-nish-B'-RU li-f'-nay a-do-NAI v'-li-f'-nay ma-cha-NE-hu, vai-s'-U sha-LAL har-BAY m'-OD.

יבוַיִּרְדְּפֵ֨ם אָסָ֜א וְהָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־עִמּוֹ֮ עַד־לִגְרָר֒ וַיִּפֹּ֤ל מִכּוּשִׁים֙ לְאֵ֣ין לָהֶ֣ם מִֽחְיָ֔ה כִּֽי־נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ לִפְנֵי־יְהֹוָ֖ה וְלִפְנֵ֣י מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ שָׁלָ֖ל הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃

13All the cities in the vicinity of Gerar were ravaged, for a terror of Hashem seized them. All the cities were plundered, and they yielded much booty.

vai-YA-khu et kol ha-e-a-REEM se-vee-VOT ge-RAR, kee ha-YAH fa-KHAD a-do-NAI a-LE-hem, vai-ya-VO-zu et kol ha-e-a-REEM, kee bi-ZAH ra-BAH ha-Y'-ta BA-hem

יגוַיַּכּ֗וּ אֵ֤ת כׇּל־הֶעָרִים֙ סְבִיב֣וֹת גְּרָ֔ר כִּי־הָיָ֥ה פַֽחַד־יְהֹוָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֙זּוּ֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים כִּֽי־בִזָּ֥ה רַבָּ֖ה הָיְתָ֥ה בָהֶֽם׃

14They also ravaged the encampment of herdsmen, capturing much sheep and camels. Then they returned to Yerushalayim.

v'-GAM a-ho-LEI mik-NEH hi-KU, va-yish-BU tzo-AN la-ROV u-g'-ma-LIM, va-ya-SHU-vu ye-ru-sha-LA-im. (s)

ידוְגַם־אׇהֳלֵ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה הִכּ֑וּ וַיִּשְׁבּ֨וּ צֹ֤אן לָרֹב֙ וּגְמַלִּ֔ים וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃