9. In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah.

10. He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.

11. Asa did that which was right in The LORD's eyes, as David his father did.

12. He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

13. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah. Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.

14. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days.

15. He brought into The LORD's house the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that he himself had dedicated: silver, gold, and utensils.

16. There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

17. Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.

18. Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures of The LORD's house, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered it into the hand of his servants. Then King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,

19. "There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold. Go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."

20. Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

21. When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.

22. Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones of Ramah, and its timber, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa used it to build Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.

23. Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.

24. Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in his father David's city; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

1. So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David's city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.

2. Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God's eyes;

3. for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,

4. and commanded Judah to seek The LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

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

6. He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

7. For he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities, and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is yet before us, 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 three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.

9. Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

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

11. Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, "The LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, the LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. The LORD, you are our God. Don't let man prevail against you."

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

13. Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and so many of the Ethiopians fell that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army; and they carried away very much booty.

14. They struck all the cities around Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came on them, and they plundered all the cities; for there was much plunder in them.

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

1. The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded:

2. and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! the LORD is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

3. Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law.

4. But when in their distress they turned to The LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

5. In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great troubles were on all the inhabitants of the lands.

6. They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God troubled them with all adversity.

7. But you be strong, and don't let your hands be slack; for your work will be rewarded."

8. When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill country of Ephraim; and he renewed The LORD's altar that was before The LORD's porch.

9. He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who lived with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon; for they came to him out of Israel in abundance when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.

10. So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.

11. They sacrificed to the LORD in that day, of the plunder which they had brought, seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep.

12. They entered into the covenant to seek The LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;

13. and that whoever would not seek The LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.

14. They swore to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with cornets.

15. All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found by them. Then the LORD gave them rest all around.

16. Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; so Asa cut down her image, ground it into dust, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

17. But the high places were not taken away out of Israel; nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

18. He brought the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, gold, and vessels into God's house.

19. There was no more war to the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.