8
Abijam slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Then his son Asa succeeded him.
9
In the twentieth year of King Jeroboam of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah;
10
he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.
11
Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done.
12
He put away the male temple prostitutes out of the land, and removed all the idols that his ancestors had made.
13
He also removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for Asherah; Asa cut down her image and burned it at the Wadi Kidron.
14
But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was true to the Lord all his days.
15
He brought into the house of the Lord the votive gifts of his father and his own votive gifts—silver, gold, and utensils.
16
There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel all their days.
17
King Baasha of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to King Asa of Judah.
18
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house, and gave them into the hands of his servants. King Asa sent them to King Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying,