Asa Reigns in Judah

9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah. 10 And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother’s name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom. 11 lAsa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father David. 12 mAnd he banished the 4perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 Also he removed nMaachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of 5Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and oburned it by the Brook Kidron. 14 pBut the 6high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa’s qheart was loyal to the Lord all his days. 15 He also brought into the house of the Lord the things which his father rhad dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils.

16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And sBaasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built tRamah, uthat he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and the treasuries of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to vBen-Hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt in wDamascus, saying, 19 “Let there be a treaty between you and me, as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a present of silver and gold. Come and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

20 So Ben-Hadad heeded King Asa, and xsent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. He attacked yIjon, zDan, aAbel Beth Maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. 21 Now it happened, when Baasha heard it, that he stopped building Ramah, and remained in bTirzah.

22 cThen King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones and timber of Ramah, which Baasha had used for building; and with them King Asa built dGeba of Benjamin, and eMizpah.

23 The rest of all the acts of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But fin the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 24 So Asa 7rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. gThen hJehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.