7
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
8
When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple.
9
Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
10
They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.
11
At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back.
12
They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul.
13
All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman.
14
They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.
15
All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.
16
King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
17
Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.