The Cushites fled, and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. “The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. When Zerah the Cushite marched out to make war against Judah, Asa called on God for aid. So the Lord gave them rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 15:12–15).Īsa built up the fortified cities, and Judah enjoyed a time of prosperity (2 Chronicles 14:6–7). They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. He assembled the people together to sacrifice to the Lord: “They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. This encouraged Asa to remove idols and to repair the altar at the Lord’s temple. Second Chronicles 15 describes a time when Azariah, a prophet, told Asa that, if he sought the Lord, God would be with him. Judah was at peace with surrounding nations for ten years during Asa’s reign (2 Chronicles 14:1). First Kings 15:14 says, “Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life” (see also 2 Chronicles 15:17). Asa also commanded his people to follow the Lord (2 Chronicles 14:4). But King Asa instituted reform he removed the male shrine prostitutes, cut down Asherah poles, and even deposed his grandmother from her position as queen mother because of her involvement with Asherah worship (1 Kings 15:12–13 2 Chronicles 14:3, 16). Asa’s grandfather, Rehoboam, had also done evil in God’s sight. Asa’s father, Abijah, had done much evil in God’s sight and only ruled for three years. The biblical account of Asa’s reign is detailed in 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 14–16.Īsa became king of Judah in the twentieth year of Jeroboam of Israel’s reign (Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the kingdom divided). He ruled for forty-one years (1 Kings 15:10) and “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2). Asa was a descendant of David and the third king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
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