Asa Calls Judah Back to God

After Abijah died, Asa became king in Judah. He did what was good and right in the Lord’s sight. In the early years of his reign the land was quiet, and Asa began strong reforms. He removed foreign altars, high places, pillars, Asherah poles, and idols, and he commanded Judah to seek the Lord and obey his law and command.

Because the land was quiet, Asa built fortified cities with walls, towers, gates, and bars. He told the people that they had sought the Lord, and the Lord had given them rest on every side. Asa also had a large army from Judah and Benjamin, prepared for battle if needed.

Then Zerah the Ethiopian came against Judah with a vast army and three hundred chariots. Asa went out to meet him at Mareshah and cried to the Lord for help, saying that Judah relied on him. The Lord struck the Ethiopians, and they fled. Asa and his people pursued them as far as Gerar, took much plunder, and returned to Jerusalem.

After this, the Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. He told Asa and the people that the Lord would be found by those who sought him, but that trouble had come in times when people turned away. He urged Asa to be strong, because his work would be rewarded. Asa took courage, removed more abominations, renewed the Lord’s altar, and gathered people from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon.

In Jerusalem they offered animals from the plunder and entered a covenant to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. The passage also reports a severe law against those who would refuse. The people rejoiced as they sought him, and the Lord gave them rest. Asa also removed Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an image for Asherah.

He destroyed it at the Kidron brook and brought silver, gold, and vessels into God’s house. Yet high places were not fully removed in the way these passages describe.