1
King Abijah died and was buried in the royal tombs in David's City. His son Asa succeeded him as king, and under Asa the land enjoyed peace for ten years.
2
Asa pleased the Lord, his God, by doing what was right and good.
3
He removed the foreign altars and the pagan places of worship, broke down the sacred stone columns, and cut down the symbols of the goddess Asherah.
4
He commanded the people of Judah to do the will of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his teachings and commands.
5
Because he abolished the pagan places of worship and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, the kingdom was at peace under his rule.
6
He built fortifications for the cities of Judah during this time, and for several years there was no war, because the Lord gave him peace.
7
He told the people of Judah, "Let us fortify the cities by building walls and towers, and gates that can be shut and barred. We have control of the land because we have done the will of the Lord our God. He has protected us and given us security on every side." And so they built and prospered.